Posted on 12/08/2006 6:38:06 PM PST by sionnsar
Press Release from the Anglican Alliance of North Florida:
Bishop Howard Attempts to Depose Six of “Florida Seven” Priests
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA—The Anglican Alliance of North Florida is saddened to announce that six of the original “Florida Seven” priests have received a letter of deposition from Bishop John Howard of the Episcopal Diocese of Florida on the grounds of “abandonment of communion” (the letter is available here in electronic format). The deposition of a priest or a deacon is an ecclesiastical measure which strips someone of clergy status by nullifying his or her ordination.
All of the priests in question had requested that Bishop Howard provide alternative episcopal oversight in 2005, and were refused. All but one had applied to the Panel of Reference and the Archbishop of Canterbury for protection. All of them are now members of the Anglican Alliance of North Florida and are faithfully serving as priests under archbishops in other parts of the Anglican Communion. Not only have they not abandoned the communion of the Church, they have come under the authority of orthodox Anglican bishops precisely because of their desire to remain in that communion.
In addition, Bishop Howard sent out a letter announcing that he had accepted letters of renunciation of ministry from seven clergy. At least three of these clergy have never renounced their orders, either verbally or in writing, but rather have been accepted as clergy under an overseas Anglican authority and serve in parishes within the Anglican Alliance of North Florida; they have no intention of renouncing their orders and ask Bishop Howard to rectify his mistake.
The priests who received letters of deposition are the Rev. Alex Farmer, the Rev. James McCaslin, the Rev. James Needham, the Rev. Samuel Pascoe, the Rev. Robert Sanders, and the Rev. David Sandifer. The priests and deacon purported to have renounced their orders have asked that their names not be disclosed at this time at the request of their overseas province.
All of these clergy are in good standing in the dioceses to which they belong and are serving under the authority of their respective bishops; by the grace of God, they intend to continue to serve Christ and His Church as ordained ministers and are looking forward to working together for a common Anglican witness.
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The Anglican Alliance of North Florida was formed in the fall of 2005 to gather together biblically faithful churches in the Anglican tradition for a common witness. The Alliance currently comprises 17 churches in North Florida, including Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Gainesville, and other cities. The goal of the Alliance is to represent orthodox Anglicanism in our area, and to work to increasingly combine our resources for common ministry and mission under the worldwide Anglican Communion.
Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams. These wolfish shepherds are simply showing their true colors. They're all for "pluriformity" and alternative truth . . . until THEIR ox is gored, then it's war to the knife.
"The floor of Hell is paved with the skulls of bishops."
- variously attributed to St. John Chrysostom, St. John Eudes, and St. Athanasius
You are so correct...
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