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Newsgroups: bit.listserv.catholic
Date:         Tue, 29 Sep 1992 12:21:10 -0500
From:         Amanda Walker <amanda@INTERCON.COM>
Subject:      Re: Crisis in the Episcopal Church (Episcopal Synod of America)

> I think the posting is of interest to many on this list, from Roman
> Catholics to Anglicans to Episcopalians.

The topics certainly are; what I find annoying is not the content per se
(several points of which I am very concerned about myself, though sometimes
not on the same side as the ESA :)), but the fact that it consisted of a
press release and other professional PR material.  To have it posted by
someone who has not been taking part in prior discussion on this list also
annoys me.  At least on the episcopal mailing list it could be conceived of
as relevant to internal Episcopal church politics; for this list, I still
feel that it was marginally appropriate at best.

However, if everyone else feels it's worth discussion here, I'll be more than
happy to participate...

---

As background to those of you who may not know much about internal Episcopal
politics of the last decade or so, here's a quick rundown of the major
Dramatis Personae:

The Prayer Book Society: an organization opposed to the 1977 revised
Episcopal Book of Common Prayer, which updated the liturgy in two major ways,
both of which they oppose: the use of modern English as an alternative to the
Elizabethan English of the 1928 and previous editions of the BCP, and much
greater conformance to the Catholic liturgy, as reflected in both the various
rites of the Church and use of the new three-year lectionary.

The Episcopal Synod of America: an organization opposed to the ordination of
women to the priesthood and episcopate, and a strong proponent of ultra-
conservative politics, both secularly and within the Episcopal Church.  There
is evdently a certain amount of overlap in membership with the PBS.

Episcopalians United for Revelation, Renewal and Reformation ("EURRR" or
often "EU"): a group of clergy and laity, formed in 1987, which seeks an
explicit conservative take-over of the Church from within.  EURRR also
publishes a newsletter entitled "United Voice" as a platform for their views.

---

EU, in particular, seems concerned with political action at the annual
General Convention and at other state and local conventions throughout the
year.  They are extremely well financed, with an annual budget of almost 1
million dollars, but have not met with widespread success in their lobbying,
despite a position they describe as "witnessing to Christian orthodoxy on
morality and liturgy."

The ESA, as well, has recently concluded that "There is reason to doubt the
future effectiveness of political action and organization," although they
have been bolstered in recent years by the evangelical bent of the current
Archbishop of Canterbury and the current tide conservative American secular
politics.

The ESA is probably the most "Catholic" of these three organizations, at
least on liturgical and ecclesiastical matters.  While the PBS bears some
resemblence to the various Latin Mass groups in the Catholic church, they are
theologically and ecclesiastically quite Protestant, and object to the
"Catholicization" and increased focus on the Eucharist (over Morning Prayer)
that have taken place in the Episcopal Church over the last few decades.  EU,
in its form and politics, seems to resemble most closely the various
evangelical political action committees and lobbying organizations that have
become prominent in American politics during the last decade.

Personal disclaimer: while I find all three to be occasionally well-
intentioned, I strongly oppose many of the actions that they have taken, both
individually and in concert, and am in strong disagreement with their
theological, ecclesiastical, and secular political agendas.


Peace,

Amanda Walker
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