He wrote, "We have been informed that the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh (TEC) has sent a letter to you seeking to release those clergy who so desire under the provisions of Canon III.9.8." The stated purpose of this action is to update TEC's records in a way that "does not involve deposition.

"While we are very much in favor of avoiding further discord among our respective organizations, we cannot recommend that you accept this option. Canon III.9.8, entitled 'Renunciation of Ordained Ministry', has the effect of removing you from ministerial office and depriving you of 'the right to exercise the gifts and spiritual authority as a Minister of God's Word and Sacraments conferred in Ordination.' The letter indicates that this action is only effective with respect to TEC. The plain language of the Canon is not so clearly limited.

"If this is solely a matter of record keeping, we encourage the two diocesan standing committees to come together to find a solution that involves neither deposition nor renunciation of ministry. The Standing Committee of the Anglican Diocese is ready to propose at least one way that this might easily be accomplished."

Allan S. Haley an attorney for the Diocese of San Joaquin had this to say; "Canon III.9.8 is the counterpart (for ministers) of Canon III.12.7 for bishops, by which the Presiding Bishop claimed to accept the 'renunciations' of Bishops Iker, Wantland and Scriven from the ordained ministry, based on statements they had made which she unilaterally interpreted as satisfying the Canon's requirements. The Chancellor for Bishop Duncan's Diocese is correct to caution any clergy from accepting such a route to assist the Episcopal Church (USA) in record-keeping problems of its own creation, which would create a cloud on their orders.

"I shall not presume, however, to offer any canonical advice to clergy in another Diocese who are so ably represented already. I would just second Chancellor Devlin's advice, and point out as well that the Canons of the Episcopal Church (USA) have a ready means of effecting a transfer of clergy to other jurisdictions through the issuance of letters dimissory. All that is required is that the Bishop in charge of the Diocese which wants to remove the clergy from its records issue such letters to each person involved, and then that Bishop reports to 815 that the clergy in question have transferred and are no longer canonically resident in that Diocese."

The Rev. J. Philip Ashey, Chief Operating Officer and Chaplain for the American Anglican Council told VOL, "I know some of those who sit on the Standing Committee of the new Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh; I served with them while I was there from 1998-2001, and I do not at all doubt their motives for trying act towards those clergy who have left TEC in a less punitive way than through inhibition and deposition.

"However, if their goal is as stated 'simply to clean up the records,' they have received some very poor advice from whomever they are consulting with regards to interpretation and application of TEC Canons.

"They can easily clean up their records and remove the departing clergy by less drastic means that Canon III.9.8. They can remove the departing clergy by declaring they are no longer licensed to officiate in the new Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh, per Canon III.9.6. Or they could transfer them to the Southern Cone by Letters Dimissory per Canon III.9.4.

"But to 'clean up the records' by application of a Canon for the Renunciation of Ministry is like using a bazooka on a fly.

"The operative effect of action under Canon III.9.8 is as follows, and I quote: 'the Priest is released from the obligations of the Ministerial office, and is deprived of the right to exercise the gifts and spiritual authority as a Minister of God's Word and Sacraments conferred in Ordination.' The language is clear. A sentence pronounced under Canon III.9.8 is a formal renunciation of ministry, period. It is a revocation of Holy Orders-- and even though it is not for reasons of discipline under Title IV, it is equally as final a revocation of Holy Orders as deposition under Canon IV.9.

"Even if the Standing Committee of the new Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh says that they are not revoking forever the Holy Orders of those who have departed, they are in fact doing so under the plain language of Canon III.9.8.

"They are also adding insult to injury by effectively denying the interchangeability of Holy Orders within the Anglican Communion. For, in imposing this irrevocable renunciation of ministry, they are in effect denying the continuing validity of their Holy Orders as clergy in the Southern Cone. And in doing so, they have added a hundred more tears and rips to the fabric of our beloved Communion. This is exactly the message that ++Henry Orombi of Uganda delivered to the TEC bishop of Virginia when I received the same sentence of "implied renunciation" under Canon III.9.8 in 2005.

"And I have not even addressed here the "due process" requirements of a written letter from each priest formally renouncing-- not resigning, not transferring, not leaving, but RENOUNCING-- their Holy orders under Canon III.9.8, if the standing committee proceeds as they have announced.

"Is this really they way they wish to treat their former brothers and sisters in ministry? Is this really the best that they can do in observing both the law and grace?"

At its website the American Anglican Council has documented canonical abuses by the leadership of the Episcopal Church, violating its own canons in furtherance of the new theology: including the abuse of abandonment and renunciation canons in order to inhibit and depose 10 bishops and 104 priests and deacons. http://tinyurl.com/bks6ro

Concluded Devlin; "We appreciate the sentiment, if it is sincere, but we are reading the canon differently. We will work toward a solution."

END