Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams.
FReepmail me if you want on or off this list.
Resource for Traditional Anglicans: http://trad-anglican.faithweb.com
Posted on 11/07/2004 4:54:02 PM PST by sionnsar
Bishop Bennison on Pennsylvania lets us in on his current thinking re: the pastors Melnyk (thanks to Kendall Harmon for the text):
Today’s edition of The Philadelphia Inquirer carries a story by David O’Reilly reporting accusations of druidic practices by the Rev. W. William Melnyk, rector, St. James’, Downingtown, and the Rev. Glyn Ruppe-Melnyk, rector, St. Francis-in-the-Fields, Sugartown, and my receipt of letters from them assuring me of their recantation of druidic teaching and their repudiation of any future connection with druidic organizations. Let me begin by outlining the background.
In response to an appeal from the Women’s Ministries at the Episcopal Church Center in New York for resources supportive of women, Glyn submitted a liturgy she had written in 1997 for study purposes only in a women’s small group in her congregation in Florida. It is a rite for the healing of women who have been the victims of assault or emotional abuse. Glyn tells me she submitted it in good faith and assumed that it would be treated as a resource for study and conversation among clergy and teachers engaged in healing and counseling. It has not now, and never has been, used as a liturgy at St. Francis-in-the-Fields or any parish she has served. She assures me that in the rare contexts of the study of feminist spirituality in which it was shared it has always been with the full explanation that it is not a Christian liturgy, and is not intended to be used as such.
Two weeks ago, the Christianity Today website carried a story about the liturgy accusing Glyn and Bill of paganism.
October 27, Glyn contacted me to inform me of the article’s publication and apologize for any harm she had caused the church and the diocese. On October 28, she and I spoke again. On October 29, I told Glyn and Bill that participation in druid activities is incompatible with their ministries as priests of the Episcopal Church, constitutes a violation of the national church canon law prohibiting the “holding and teaching publicly or privately, and advisably, doctrine contrary to that held by this Church” (Canon IV.1.1), and is extremely serious. At the same time I sought to ensure that both of them be treated fairly and not become victims of a “where there’s smoke, there’s fire” mentality. I have been concerned to protect the reputations and meet the pastoral needs of two who have contributed very positively to their parishes and our diocese.
On Saturday, October 30, I had separate conference calls with both clergy and the wardens of their congregations and learned that their ministries have been gratefully received by the people they serve. Later that day Glyn met with her vestry, which expressed its overwhelming support for Glyn as their rector and its conviction that she has always kept St. Francis-in-the-Fields true to the Christian faith.
On Wednesday, November 3, the Very Rev. N. Dean Evans, Dean of the Brandywine Deanery, and I met with Bill and his vestry to consider evidence supporting the accusations. Widespread in the meeting were expressions of gratitude for Bill’s ministry to individuals of his parish and the parish as a community, concern for his ministry, the parish, and the wider church, and a sense that in his efforts to bridge the divide between Christianity and a pagan religion he had gone too far.
On November 4, I received from Bill and Glyn letters of apology and repentance for any damage that the exercise of their ministries has caused and assurances without reservation that they affirm the teaching of the Church as set forth in Holy Scripture, the Creeds, and the Baptismal Covenant. They promised me they are doing everything possible to repair any damage that has been caused to their own congregations or to the wider church.
While I am continuing to ascertain and establish the facts of the two separate cases, at the present time I am issuing both priests a Pastoral Direction and Solemn Warning pertaining to their future conduct in regard to what has occurred.
The past two weeks have been very difficult ones for Glyn and Bill, their wardens, and their vestries, as their ministries have been challenged by voices from outside of the diocese and, indeed, outside the Episcopal Church. I ask you, their sisters and brothers in our diocesan clericus, to pray for them, for their physical and emotional health, for their strength to persevere graciously amidst the pressures they are under, for the people they serve, for our diocese, and for me.
Faithfully,
The Rt. Rev Charles E. Bennison, Jr. Bishop of Pennsylvania
I certainly second his call for prayer for Father and Mother Melnyk, and for the difficult decisions that he as bishop has to make regarding the situation. Now, if we can just get someone at Episcopal headquarters to take the whole pagan-endorsement-thing seriously....
Since when has Bishop Bennison cared a fig about what Christian doctrine teaches? He certainly does'nt accept Christian teachings on sexual morality.
Glad you posted this - but I would be hesitant to beleive anything which the Melnycks say......ditto for Bennison.
This is clearly window dressing. Tidying things up just enough to keep the $$$ flowing into the coffers.......and to keep the comfortable salaries flowing into the pockets of the Melnycks from their congregations.
A real bishop would have removed them from active ministry - or at least suspended them, pending a lengthy and observable period of penance, and study of Charistian doctrine.
By right, the congregations should have fired the two tree worshippers, and sent them packing. But, of course that will not happen.
However if they were true, devout, pious Anglicans who used Rite 1, or exclusively used the 1928 BCP & 1940 Hymnal, and kept to the the traditions and doctrine of Anglicanism......I am quite sure they would be living in a cardboard box right now!
when a pedophile is caught - nobody believes what they are seeing or hearing about a member of the community. Then when the victims come forward the church rallies around the offender. Not much has changed in this letter. Guilty of supporting paganism or guilty of having a web site to introduce older gays to children - nothing is happening -MoveOn.
These two Druids should be fired by their vestries, and then they can go start some Druid something on their own dime.
That, or serving in the APCK.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.