Aug. 23 Pastoral Letter from the Bishop of West Tennessee

Dear Friends,

As summer comes to a close, it seems a good time to be in touch with you about our common life in The Diocese of West Tennessee and about rumors and questions that have been circulating. I have recently returned from the Laymen's Conference at DuBose Conference Center where I gave a report to our men from West Tennessee. In it, I noted that 2004 has presented us with both challenges and opportunities. Among the challenges are the decisions of five diocesan priests to leave The Episcopal Church. Two have sought to align themselves with AMiA and three with the Anglican Diocese of Thika (a diocese of the Province of Kenya in Africa.) The bishop from Thika came into our diocese without my invitation and without my permission to perform Episcopal actions that were beyond his jurisdictional authority. Two of the five priests mentioned above participated in services with this bishop.

Part of the oversight I am called to enforce is to uphold our Church's Constitution and Canons. As a result, I have inhibited or deposed four of the above-mentioned priests for their "Abandonment of the Communion of this Church." The fifth priest will be inhibited if he proceeds with his decision to leave ECUSA. Although these kinds of issues are some of the toughest realities I face as your bishop, I will act as necessary to address them.

This past week, an open meeting of the Mid-South Chapter of the American Anglican Council occurred at All Saints', Memphis. Since it had already been publicly announced, I allowed this meeting to take place for pastoral reasons in support of the host rector. However by doing so, I did not condone its business agenda or purposes. I attended the meeting to hear AAC's plans, and I am convinced that unless AAC and the rest of us can find in our hearts a way to stay at the table with people of different Christian theological perspectives, the splintering of the Episcopal churches in America and the Anglican Communion at large will continue and our witness to Christ Jesus will be diminished. Pray for the Church.

As I reported to the Laymen, the rumor is patently false that seven churches in the Diocese have closed in response to post-General Convention sentiments. It is true that Christ Church, Collierville, closed, and this was for many reasons. General Convention actions did play a part for some of those involved. However, no other church has closed for this reason. It is true that some members at various churches across the Diocese have left their respective parishes, and this saddens me. In spite of this, the vast majority of our members are committed to remain in Christ's service as Episcopalians. While some have left, many others have entered The Episcopal Church as confirmed new members. Even in congregations that have sustained the largest losses, each has regrouped and is rebuilding under solid clergy and lay leadership. It will take a bit of time and a lot of prayerful effort, but it is happening now...

Faithfully yours with God's blessings,
The Rt. Rev. Don E. Johnson
Bishop of West Tennessee

Letter written by The Rt. Rev. Don E. Johnson, Bishop of West Tennessee
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