An open letter to the Primates of the Anglican Communion

25 May 2001

We, the Rector, Churchwardens and Parish Council of All Saints', Wickham Terrace, in the Diocese of Brisbane, Australia write in support of Father Samuel Edwards SSC and the Churchwardens and Vestry of Christ Church, Accokeet in the Diocese of Washington, USA.

We have been praying for Father Sam and the people of Christ Church as they respond to the determination of Bishop Jane Dixon to ensure that Christ Church will not survive as a parish to which people can go for Gospel ministry and classical Christian orthodoxy. We have been praying that they will win, because if that parish falls to Bishop Dixon's liberal reductionist version of Christianity, a chilling message will be sent right around the world to every parish like Christ Church Accokeet and our parish of All Saints, Brisbane, who function as isolated havens of orthodoxy in theologically liberal dioceses and provinces.

That message will be that in spite of the overwhelming support given by the 1998 Lambeth Conference to both the sexuality resolution and the Eames Commission resolution (in which it was stated quite clearly that parishes like Christ Church Accokeet and ourselves are to be treated as loyal Anglicans, and that we are even entitled to "appropriate episcopal ministry"), the liberal bishops of declining "first world" Anglican provinces are going to use every means at their disposal to wipe us out.

Since the "ordination" of women began in our churches many of our friends have become Roman Catholics or Eastern Orthodox; others have joined "Continuing Churches"; still others have given up Christianity altogether. We are trying desperately to remain, and we take great offence at the allegation that we are not loyal Anglicans.

Ostensibly the battle at Christ Church is over legal technicalities in the canons regarding their appointment system. It is obvious, though, that the REAL issue is whether or not revisionist bishops are willing to allow orthodox parishes to survive. It is a confrontation between those who believe in the "givenness" of the Christian Faith and those who make it up as they go along, with every distinctively Christian doctrine able to be discarded according to the latest theological fashion.

Here in Australia, in spite of their protestations to the contrary, some bishops and their archdeacons ensure that theologically orthodox priests fail to get through the nomination process by which rectors and vicars are appointed. Because the process is supposed to be confidential, it is not possible to bring to the wider attention of the Church the way clergy and parishes are treated for believing what has always been believed with regard to the ordination of women, human sexuality and a range of other "core" matters.

We plead with you to at least make public your support for Father Edwards and his people. A number of ECUSA bishops have already done so. Your doing so will encourage parishes like ours to persevere in "the faith once delivered to the Saints", in a way that is fully catholic and fully evangelical.

We believe that the events at Accokeek are an insult to the primates who gathered at Kanuga to be officially informed that all talk of "crisis" in ECUSA is exaggerated. Are those of you who really believe in the Gospel and the Catholic Faith willing to let faithful believers suffer like this while Professor Sykes and his committee retreat to their ivory tower to consider what recourse primates have when a diocese or province clearly separates itself from classical Christian orthodoxy?

Do you have the luxury of time? Is not the crisis upon us now? Has not the time come for some action such as that suggested in "To Mend The Net"? Can we be sure that we, or any other isolated orthodox parish, will be allowed to survive?

Yours sincerely in the Gospel of Jesus, and the Catholic Faith that comes to us from the Apostles.

Father David Chislett SSC, Rector Ms Lorraine Hines, Rector's Warden Mr Colin Sheehan, Secretary of Parish Council Peoples' Wardens: Mr Peter Kent, Mr Malcolm Badgery Parish Councillors: Mrs Margaret Sparks Mr Paul Clare Associate Professor Joy Vickerstaff Brother Gregory Molloy Mr Ray Benn The Revd. Bernard Butterypo