Forward in Faith Asks Presiding Bishop To Have Two Priests Elected As Bishops

NEWS RELEASE

Contact: Canon Warren Tanghe
Forward in Faith North America
404-872-4169

For Immediate Release:

Fort Worth, TX: August 23rd, 2002

Yesterday, Forward in Faith, North America (FIF/NA), asked the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church to have two of its priests elected and consecrated as bishops to provide alternative pastoral oversight for its congregations, and for other congregations which hold fast to the Church's historic ministry, and do not accept the ordination of women as priests and bishops.
The bishops of the worldwide Anglican Communion have said that such members should be given alternative episcopal oversight by bishops of like belief. The Episcopal Church and its Presiding Bishop have promised to provide such oversight for its traditionalists, but with some local exceptions have failed to do so, to the grave concern of many of the Communion's leaders. Indeed, one root of the conflict between the Rt. Rev'd Charles Bennison, Bishop of Pennsylvania, and the Rev'd Dr. David Moyer of the Church of the Good Shepherd in Rosemont, is the former's termination of such oversight for Rosemont.
The two priests chosen are Fr. Moyer, who is FIF/NA's President, and the Rev'd William Ilgenfritz of St. Stephen's Church, Whitehall, in the Diocese of Bethlehem, who is FIF/NA's newly-elected Vice-President. They were put forward by affirmative vote of deputies representing the organization's regional convocations and affiliated parishes at FIF/NA's annual Assembly, which was held in Belleville, IL, from the 18th through 22nd of August.
The Episcopal House of Bishops, at its meeting in Texas last Spring, declared that appropriate oversight could be provided within the laws and structures of the Episcopal Church. FIF/NA is therefore asking the Presiding Bishop to act within those laws and structures, so as to make the men FIF/NA has chosen and supports bishops, and to give them the care of the organization's constituency. Should he and his fellow-bishops fail to do so within the church's structures, it will increase the likelihood that Anglican leaders overseas will contemplate an intervention to ensure that what the Communion has promised its traditionalists is provided in the American Church.
Forward in Faith, North America, is the first and largest traditionalist organization in the Episcopal Church, and the only one which represents those who uphold the Church's historic ministry.
For further information, contact FIF/NA's national office at 817-735-1675, or Canon Warren Tanghe, its Secretary, at 404-872-4169 or 404-873-1453. Fr. Moyer can be reached at 610-525-7070 or 610-525-9583; Fr. Ilgenfritz, at 610-435-3901 or 610-435-9818.

The following is the text of the letter sent by Forward in Faith, North America, to Presiding Bishop Griswold:


August 22nd, 2002

The Most Rev'd Frank Griswold
Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church
815 Second Avenue
New York, NY 10017


Dear Bishop Griswold;
I write on behalf of Forward in Faith, North America, the first and largest body representing traditionalists in The Episcopal Church, and the only body representing those who, adhering to the historic ministry of the Church, do not accept the ordination of women as priests and bishops.
In its pastoral letter read on April 1, 2001, the House of Bishops noted that "the Primates have also called upon us to provide pastoral care for all in our Communion, as we grow in Christ's wisdom", and pledged, "we mean to respond faithfully to that call". You yourself, in your letter to the Primates of June 19th, 2001, observed that "at Kanuga we agreed about the importance of sustained pastoral care", and stated, "this is for me a continuing concern and commitment".
On March 13th, 2002, the House of Bishops issued "A Covenant on Sustained Pastoral Care" which asserted that "the present Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church are sufficient for dealing with questions of Episcopal oversight, supplemental episcopal care, and disputes that may arise between the bishop and a congregation".
On August 20th, 2002, by the affirmative vote of delegates representing FIF/NA's regional convocations and affiliated parishes, that body's annual Assembly put forward the names of two priests whom we believe are called to provide such sustained pastoral care, and whom our constituency will support in that ministry. The two priests are the Rev'd William Ilgenfritz, Rector of St. Stephen's Church, Whitehall, in the Diocese of Bethlehem; and the Rev'd Dr. David Moyer, Rector of the Church of the Good Shepherd, Rosemont, in the Diocese of Pennsylvania. The Communion, the House of Bishops, and you yourself have promised our constituency sustained pastoral care: these are the men we ask to have provide it.
The Council has therefore directed me to write you, to ask that, in keeping with the House of Bishops' pledge and your own, you secure within the laws and structures of The Episcopal Church the election and consecration of these two priests as bishops to provide sustained pastoral care to the congregations affiliated with Forward in Faith, North America, and to other congregations which might request such care.
Yours sincerely,



(The Rev'd Canon) Warren Tanghe, SSC
Secretary, FIF/NA