By the Rev’d. Keith Acker (Swartz Creek, MI) In a surprise move, the Bishop of Episcopal Diocese of Eastern Michigan finds himself with opposition and defiance from thirteen of his fellow Episcopal bishops. On Thursday, the Rt. Rev’d Edwin M. Leidel acted formally to complete the deposition of the Rev’d Eugene Geromel, SSC, as a priest of the Episcopal Church in his diocese. The Bishop removed Father Geromel on grounds of “abandonment of the communion of this church” under Canon IV.10.
The announcement was made by the Rev’d William Ilgenfritz, Vice President of Forward In Faith North America, who stood to read a statement from thirteen Episcopal bishops declaring that they would both recognize and license Father Geromel, of Swartz Creek, Michigan, as a valid priest of the Episcopal Church and give him license to function in their dioceses. They cited Leidel’s improper use of church rules, using them to silence a priest opposed to his sanctioning of the blessing of homosexual unions and participation in the consecration of a non-celibate homosexual bishop last year.
Bishop William Wantland, an expert in Canon Law and a member of the move opposing Leidel, said that “this was a totally inappropriate use of power to silence the opposition and avoid the embarrassment of a trial where actual grounds must be presented and a priest is allowed to defend himself.” The “abandonment rule” is for cases where a priest leaves the Episcopal Church for a different church or denomination. Father Geromel has consistently maintained his relationship to the Episcopal Church and has without fail reported his priestly activities to Bishop Leidel.
Father Geromel pointed out “I am not the focus in this deposition. There is a larger issue of loyal Anglicans being pushed out of the Episcopal Church. Bishop Liedel is misguided in believing that only loyalty to him, with his disregard of traditional Biblical morality, constitutes ‘being in the Anglican Communion.’ Especially since he and his ilk are themselves not members good standing in the Anglican Communion.” The Episcopal Church USA was asked to withdraw from the counsels of the Anglican Communion after embracing teaching inconsistent with Holy Scripture.
This deposition is only one of several that have occurred within the Episcopal Church to force those opposed theologically to embrace homosexual marriage and active homosexual leaders. The past president of Forward In Faith, the Rt. Rev’d David Moyer, was attacked by the same methods in 2002. Forward In Faith is a worldwide organization upholding the faith and order of undivided Christianity in the Anglican Communion of Churches. The most recent case involves the Rev’d Mark Hansen, Bristol, Connecticut, where he was charged for abandonment while on sabbatical, and the parish was invaded by Bishop Andrew Smith with a troop of security guards, computer hackers, and locksmiths. Father Hansen has been in vocal opposition to the sexual innovations endorsed by Bishop Smith. The Anglican Communion Network moderator, Bishop Robert Duncan, has led the opposition as a coalition of Evangelical and Anglo-Catholic Episcopalians with the support of the leaders of worldwide Anglicanism.
In effect, Bishop Leidel’s action against Father Geromel will have little or no effect on his functioning as a priest and providing the sacraments to other faithful Anglicans abandoned by the Episcopal Church and their “shepherd,” Bishop Leidel. The effect on the Episcopal Church is to further widen the divide between those who hold Holy Scripture to be God’s revealed Word for all time and those who would reinterpret it to fit modern circumstances.
On a global level, this example of abuse underscores the widening gap between the Episcopal Church USA and the majority of the Anglican Communion of churches. Earlier this year the Primates (leaders) of the Anglican Communion asked the Episcopal Church USA to withdraw from its councils, to repent and comeback to the Gospel teaching. At present it appears the only ones willing to repent are those who oppose bishops like Leidel, Bennison, and Smith and others who actively persecute faithful Anglicans who follow the teachings of the Bible.