From The Right Revd Paul V Marshall, Bishop of Bethlehem

 

Bishop Paul V Marshall

April 20, 2004

 

The Rev. William H. Ilgenfritz
St. Stephen’s Church
3900 Mechanicsville Road
Whitehall, PA 18052-0202

 

Dear Fr. Ilgenfritz,

 

As you know, I require clergy to attend Bible studies, clergy days, and the Chrism Mass. You are in violation of this requirement, and have not requested to be excused. Furthermore, my recent attempt to schedule a visitation at St. Stephen’s has been rebuffed. I have a letter from the vestry indicating that it is "in support of our rector" that they are violating the diocesan constitution regarding assessments.

 

Please write to me within the next 48 hours advising me whether you believe yourself to be in communion with me as your bishop and whether you believe yourself bound to respect my canonical authority and pastoral direction. If I do not hear from you in the affirmative, I will interpret that as a No.

 

Sincerely yours,

 

+Paul V. Marshall
Bishop

 

CC: The Chancellor, The Rev. Henry Pease

 

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From The Revd William Ilgenfritz
Rector of St Stephen, Whitehall, Pennsylvania

Fr William Ilgenfritz

April 27, 2004

 

The Rt. Rev. Paul V. Marshall
The Episcopal Diocese of Bethlehem
Diocesan House
333 Wyandotte Street
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015

 

Dear Bishop Marshall,

 

I offer the following in response to your letter dated April 20, 2004 received in my office by fax on April 26th.

 

I begin by acknowledging that I am in violation of your requirement for clergy to attend Bible studies, clergy days, and the Chrism Mass. It is also true that I have not asked to be excused. However, I do wish to remind you that this violation did not occur until after the 74th General Convention and your decision to consent to the election as Bishop of New Hampshire, a man engaged in sexual activity outside the bonds of Holy Matrimony, and to recognize and approve the blessing of same-sex unions.

 

Your statement that your attempt to schedule a visitation at St. Stephen’s was "rebuffed" is inaccurate. As I recall, your annual visitation was originally scheduled for March 28, 2004. Several weeks before that date I received a letter from your office informing us of a scheduling conflict and inviting our participation in a regional confirmation. Your letter did not offer to reschedule your visit to St. Stephen’s. Within the past few weeks I received a telephone call from your office asking if we would like to reschedule. I can only assume that call came in preparation for your recent letters. The response I gave was "not at this time." My response should not have been interpreted by anyone to mean that I was trying to prevent your visitation at a future date. Be that as it may, the point I wish to make very clear is that I have no intention of trying to prevent you from visiting this parish.

 

The decision of the vestry to redirect financial support from the Diocese of Bethlehem and the Episcopal Church USA to orthodox local, national, and international organizations and ministries is a direct result of your actions at the 74th General Convention. On August 19, 2003, the overwhelming majority of our parishioners sent you A Statement of Repudiation and Disassociation From the Actions of the 74th General Convention of the Episcopal Church. Since then, a significant number of our members whose combined pledges represent significant financial support have indicated that there contributions were not to be used in support of the Diocese of Bethlehem or the Episcopal Church USA. Be assured that I have discussed the possible consequences of Article V of the diocesan constitution with them. As the instituted Rector of St. Stephen’s, I have a very serious and binding moral, pastoral, and fiduciary responsibility for my people. If faithful people in large numbers cannot in conscience support and maintain their relationship to this portion of the body of Christ because of the actions of the Diocese and its Bishop, what am I expected to do?

 

The part of your brief letter which affects me most directly, of course, is the question you ask: "Do you believe yourself to be in communion with me as your bishop and do you believe yourself bound to respect my canonical authority and pastoral direction?" You must understand how difficult it is for me to answer with an unqualified "yes" or "no." If I answer "yes," I will most likely lose my parish. If I answer "no," I will most likely lose my parish. So, I will answer in the only way I know how to answer -- honestly.

 

There is no doubt that you are the juridical authority in the Episcopal Diocese of Bethlehem. As a priest of this diocese I am subject to your authority. I am bound to respect your juridical authority under the canons. However, I believe I am bound to reject your pastoral direction when I believe it contrary to the Word of God written and to two thousand years of tradition in the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. As a priest of the Diocese of Bethlehem and therefore as a priest of the Episcopal Church USA and the Anglican Communion, I find myself part of a church that has been declared to be in open rebellion and disobedient to the whole counsel of God by the vast majority of baptized members of the Anglican Communion. Just as your communion with the majority of the Anglican Communion has been impaired or broken by your actions in support of the decisions of the 74th General Convention, so my communion with you is impaired.

 

I continue to pray for reconciliation and unity. But, this reconciliation must be grounded in the teachings of Jesus Christ and His Apostles which alone fosters unity among Christians.

 

Sincerely yours,

 

Father William H. Ilgenfritz
Rector

 

CC: The Chancellor, The Rev. Henry Pease