In an act of Constitutional and Canonical disobedience planned by the
American Anglican Council, Bishops C. FitzSimons Allison, retired Bishop of South Carolina, Maurice Benitez, retired Bishop of Texas, William Cox, retired assistant Bishop of Oklahoma, Alex Dickson, retired Bishop of West Tennessee, William Wantland, retired Bishop of Eau Claire, and Robinson Cavalcanti. Bishop of the Diocese of Northern Brazil, confirmed and celebrated the Eucharist in an Orthodox church in Akron, Ohio, without the knowledge or permission of the Bishop of Ohio.

Because two of the bishops who were involved in this event reside in the Diocese of Oklahoma, I believe that it is appropriate for me to make the following statements. Bishop William Wantland is an attorney and a respected expert on Church Canons. I am sure that he fully appreciates the seriousness of his actions. He is not licensed to exercise episcopal ministry in this diocese, but I have given him permission to accept invitations to celebrate, preach, and lead retreats whenever he has been asked to do so by Episcopal congregations and brotherhoods in Oklahoma.

Until this matter is resolved, I urge you to keep him in your prayers
and pray that he will take no further covert actions that will cause
deeper divisions within our Church.

Bishop William Cox served as an assistant bishop of Oklahoma for eight
years. He presently serves on the staff of St. John's Church in Tulsa.
He is well known for his ministry in Christian Healing. He is a beloved
individual to many. His decision to participate in an event that has
created a constitutional and canonical crisis is a surprise to both me
and to the Reverend David Fox, the Rector of St. John's. He said nothing to either of us abo ut his intention to do this. I do not know if he appreciates that his actions reflect upon both the Diocese of Oklahoma and the Parish of St. John's. I ask your prayers for him that Christ's spirit will lead him to be a healer of the Church's wounds.

The House of Bishops will meet at Camp Allen in the Diocese of Texas
from March 19-25, 2004. I believe that an appropriate response to this
action of defiance and disobedience on the part of those bishops will be on our agenda. That response could be a censure of these bishops or a presentment that could lead to an ecclesiastical trial. I ask your
prayers for the bishops and for our Church. I will be communication with you upon my return from the House of Bishops.

Faithfully,

+Robert M. Moody
Bishop of Oklahoma