Bishop David Robarts

The Chairman of Forward in Faith Australia, Fr David Robarts OAM, and Vice Chairman, Fr Harry Entwistle SSC, were this morning being consecrated to the Episcopate in Adelaide, South Australia, by the Primate of the Traditional Anglican Communion, the Most Reverend John Hepworth.

Bishop Harry Entwistle SSC

Forward in Faith Australia is co-operating with the TAC in the consecration of these two bishops. The Consecration of Bishop David Chislett last year attracted widespread interest due to the involvement of Anglican Communion bishops with bishops of the TAC. The Right Reverend Ross Davies, Bishop of The Murray in South Australia, was one of the co-consecrators on that occasion and his Report to the FiF UK National Assembly which explains the position in Australia and the relationship of FiFA with the TAC can be heard here.  For the sake of the unity of his own diocese and relations in the Anglican Church of Australia, Bishop Davies did not participate in the consecrations of Fr Entwistle and Fr Robarts. Bishop Davies, who supports in principle the co-operation of FiFA and the TAC in providing alternative episcopal oversight, today released the text of an e-mail which he sent earlier this week to the bishops of the Anglican Church of Australia:

“Dear Brothers,

As much as we would all like to minister in a Church where misinformation, whether intentional or not, never occurs, I hope you will forgive me for reminding you, that whatever you may hear, I am fulfilling my undertaking which I made to you at the Bishops' Meeting earlier this year. This means that I will neither be participating in, nor attending, the consecrations of the Reverends Harry Entwistle and David Robarts to the episcopate, which will occur in Adelaide this coming Friday 24th November. These are taking place in a church building which is not part of the property of the Anglican Church of Australia in the Province of SA.

Also to allay any misunderstanding I will explain about licences held in The Murray. At present there is only one bishop assisting me in episcopal functions. This is the Rt Rev'd Stuart Smith, formerly Bishop Assistant of Adelaide. He does this, in retirement, by holding my licence as an archdeacon and is permitted to assist in ordinations, officiate at confirmations and represent me and act 'in loco episcopi'. My legal advisors inform me that I am within canon law to grant a PTO, which may be exercised as a priest, to the Rt Rev'd David Chislett and to the two new bishops (Robarts and Entwistle). They are rarely in my diocese and are only ever invited to preach, celebrate the eucharist or other offices at which a priest is authorised to officiate.

Despite the differences in our church on the issue of Holy Order, I will continue to co-operate with you all to the highest degree possible in areas where we all have common cause.

Christine and I wish you and your families a happy and holy Christmastide and the blessings of Christ in the new year. We all share a great burden and probably join with the bishops of the early church in their cry of 'nolo episcopare'.

in Christ,

X Ross The Murray”

The Chairman of Forward in Faith International, Bishop John Broadhurst, also released today the text of a letter which he wrote to the two new bishops prior to their consecrations:

“Dear Fathers,

I write to assure you that you are both in my prayers today as you prepare to be ordained as bishops in the Church of God in Adelaide tomorrow.

It has long been clear to me that the treatment afforded to members of Forward in Faith Australia by the Anglican Church in Australia has left you with little option but to pursue the course you have chosen.  It is, then, my fervent hope that your future ministries will be richly blessed as you endeavour to serve all faithful Anglicans throughout Australia and that we will continue to work in close collaboration in the years to come.

With every blessing,

X John Fulham

The Right Reverend John Broadhurst

Bishop of Fulham

Chairman, Forward in Faith International”