A Place of Common Beginning

Ed Fordyce

It's all about where you start, a place of common beginning. "No one comes to me unless the Father who sent me draws him...." (John 6:44) And, as we are drawn, we look to find others similarly drawn. What are they doing; how are they living their lives. Am I welcome just as I am? Can I find shelter, encouragement-maybe even something life changing-by being with these people? If I am confused, dispirited, dejected, at my wits' end, is this church a good place to be?

The Episcopal Church at its best has welcomed all-come learn about us by seeing and hearing us worship. If you enjoy the traditional, the contemporary, even the "far out," there are parishes in our communities where you will feel at home. If you are drawn by C.S. Lewis or The Romance of Orthodoxy, we have places where you can hear more about our faith from people with similar voices. If Matthew Fox, Barbara Brown Taylor, Sister Joan Chittister, or Bishop John Shelby Spong grab you, some groups of Episcopalians are probably trying to get a grip on these authors' ideas.

But if you feel you have lost your vision, have no stomach for heady things, or are tired of being lectured or ordered about, you are still welcome into our midst. Come, and just be present. We will try to honor you wherever you are. You are drawn to us, and we don't need to ask why. You are welcome.

Now, with the prospect of joining the Anglican Communion Network will our welcome become conditional or come with strings attached? From what the Network says, the answer seems to be, Yes. You have to affirm their theological charter, or have some group affirm it for you and bring you in.

"Affirm the theological charter we recently drew up and you can associate with us. Sign your parish's name right here." "Don't let the language of the charter overwhelm you, it was written by theologians." "Father says it's OK, and Father knows best." Or, as was recently said about the charter, "It's all from Scripture, what could possibly be wrong with it?"

To join the Network a vestry votes to affirm the theological charter, and the rector/vicar/priest-in-charge and senior warden sign you up. If our diocese votes to join the Network, a parish need do nothing--it is "already part of the ACN." Presumably, you are bound to the charter, like it or not. Even if 49% vote at the diocesan convention against joining the Network, a majority voting in favor will prevail. You're in.

And, that's as it should be, you might say. Majority rules. But, what about the majority's vote at General Convention in 2003? Ah, but we are told that was heretical. And the argument continues on and on and on.

Affirming the Network's theological charter is something new, something added to what has been expected, or required, of Episcopalians for hundreds of years. Whether in Rite I or Rite II of the Holy Eucharist we Episcopalians are called to affirm our faith in the words of the Nicene Creed. And why? Because at its core that creed is the last common statement of our faith, our "theological charter" if you will, agreed upon by vote of the whole Christian church--the holy catholic and apostolic Church, acting as one--East, West, North and South. No other statement or creed or confession since about 1000 A.D. can make that claim. Until the entire Church comes up with a new one, every other statement or creed or theological charter affecting the Episcopal Church, including the theological charter of the Network, is superfluous--being more than is sufficient or required; excessive; unnecessary or needless. Take your pick.

And, there are other questions raised by associating with the Network. At a diocesan meeting August 7, 2004, Bishop Stanton asked us to see that "the only way we [in the Diocese of Dallas] can be connected with the entire Anglican Communion is through [membership in] the Network. That's the only issue. We're not leaving anything-it's about staying connected. I will not be a part of, or suffer the Diocese to be a part of, a separate denomination, a separate province, or a separate church." And he makes a telling point: it does seem likely that leaders of millions of fellow Anglicans, particularly in Africa, will disassociate themselves and their congregations from the Episcopal Church, its national leadership, and its bishops-at least those who voted to confirm the election of Gene Robinson as Bishop of New Hampshire.

But assuming membership in the Network is a way to stay connected with the churches in Africa and elsewhere in "The Global South," is that all the Network offers? What else comes along with membership in the Network? What other indicia of membership will rub off on us, or be printed on our name badges whether we like it or not?

There certainly are people within the Network who would

• deny women's rights to be priests,
• throw out the 1979 Book of Common Prayer, particularly Rite II, and
• push us towards biblical inerrancy.

Membership in the Network entails more than staying connected with Africans. It's like the time I went to my newly-married son's house for dinner. It was impossible to enjoy the soup course when I could smell something burning in the kitchen--something I would later have to smile and eat. I would rather have stayed at home.

The Episcopal Church looks to me like home. The floors may need new joists; there are some bugs in the walls; and new plantings have arrived I can work into the front yard. But I like being involved in making it new, making it feel right to me. I'd rather not have others do it for me. I'd like for all our work this fall to continue at a place of common beginning.

Edward W. Fordyce, Jr.
Episcopal Church of the Redeemer
Irving, Texas
September, 2004

Ed Fordyce's interest in education has led him to the opportunity to serve as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of The Parish Episcopal School, a trustee on the Board of Fontbonne University (Roman Catholic), Clayton, Missouri, chief fund-raiser for a camp and conference center in the Texas Hill Country, an adopt-a-school program leader in the Dallas ISD, and currently as leader of an adult bible study group at his parish in Irving. Trained as a lawyer, he has been vice president and general counsel for several national public and private corporations, and has been involved in Episcopal Church legal proceedings in the Diocese of Newark (New Jersey) and subsequent, successful appeal before the Court of Review for Province II. He is an honors graduate of Harvard College, and holds a law degree from the University of Virginia.

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