Episcopal Lay Group Wants 'Gay' Bishop and Consecrating Clergy Put on Trial
by Jim Brown
May 16, 2006
(AgapePress) - - A group of traditionalist Episcopalians wants the 42 bishops who approved the ordination of an openly homosexual bishop to face church trials for, among other things, flagrantly violating their own ordination vows and scripture.
Lay Episcopalians for the Anglican Communion (LEAC) has launched a national petition drive requesting action from 37 Episcopal bishops who opposed the elevation of Vicki Gene Robinson to the position of Bishop of New Hampshire. LEAC has also sent letters asking those 37 bishops to bring ecclesiastical charges against Robinson and the liberal bishops who consecrated him.
Last month LEAC asked Robinson and his consecrators to "recant, repent, resign or retire" because of their actions nearly three years ago. None did so, and their refusal has prompted the lay group to initiate this latest action, calling for church-law indictments against the errant bishops whose "acquiescence to and promotion of the radical gay-lesbian-transgender agenda," according to one LEAC member, has "wrecked our church as we know it."
The group has asked the traditional bishops to respond to its letters by May 22. James Ince, a spokesman for LEAC, says about half of the 37 clergy members stood up at the 2003 convention and issued fervent pleas for the election of Robinson to be reversed because they knew the damage it would do to the worldwide Anglican Communion.
And now, Ince notes, those biblically steadfast bishops are being asked to stand up once more. "We're asking them to rise up and use this perhaps last available resource to win the day," he says.
Robinson and the bishops who consecrated him have committed "grave offenses," the LEAC spokesman asserts. "There's been clear violation of scripture, clear violation of both their priestly ordination vows -- when they first became priests -- and their vows in consecration as bishops, to uphold the faith," he says.
Still, Ince points out, given the collegiality between bishops in the Episcopal Church, even despite their theological differences, bringing indictments against the liberal leaders will not be easy. It would require at least 10 bishops to bring indictments or "presentment proceedings" against the 42 pro-homosexual bishops, he notes.
Another similarly clear-cut case demonstrates how difficult church discipline can be under such circumstances. In 1996, Episcopal Bishop Walter Righter went on trial for charges of heresy after ordaining a practicing homosexual as deacon in 1990. He was acquitted of all charges, however, and continues to serve as a bishop in the denomination today.
Nevertheless, LEAC is urging intervention by the orthodox bishops and, if necessary, punishment of those who may have violated their ordination and consecration vows. The Episcopal lay group has launched an online petition drive calling for commencement of the legal action and will also be circulating the petition at the denomination's General Convention next month in Columbus, Ohio.
Jim Brown, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.
