Special Commentary: Episcopal 'Entropy' - the Divisions Continue

The concept of entropy says nature tends to move from order to disorder in isolated systems. Is this what we having been watching in the Episcopal Church over the past three decades?

WASHINGTON (Catholic Online) - Many believe the battle for the soul of the Episcopal Church is now over. Frontline parishes are leaving and the continuing battle for buildings is just a part of what lies ahead.

The church troubles have been highlighted again this week by a ruling from a Fairfax, Virginia judge which opens the real possibility that eleven parishes who exited the Diocese of Virginia may, in fact, keep their property. The fight, however, still has a long way to go.

Growing up in the Episcopal Church, I was an onlooker as periodic issues within our communion gained notoriety. During my teen years, Bishop James Pike, Ordinary for the Diocese of California circa 1966, made headlines for his unorthodox and, at times, heretical views that went unchallenged by the denomination.

In the 1970's we faced the trials and tribulations of the PBCP - the Proposed Book of Common Prayer - destined to supplant our beloved 1928 version. Since our rector at the time was a member of the "committee" we were neck deep in the test drive.

About that same time another major upheaval hit the church; this time with an impact that caused many traditional Episcopalians to say, "enough is enough." With the ordination of women a new classification of Anglicans in America came into existence - the Continuing Church movement. These Anglicans were split into various groups such as the Diocese of Christ the King, the United Episcopal Church, the Anglican Catholic Church, and the Anglican Church in America, and many others.

Each of these groups used only the 1928 Book of Common Prayer, the 1949 Hymnal, the early Canon Law of the Episcopal Church, and refused the ordination of women.

The main attraction of these churches seemed to be reactionary - "we are not like the Episcopal Church USA." After the initial exodus on the late 1970's and early 80's these groups maintained a status quo for almost ten years with only nominal growth.

In the decade to follow the Continuing Churches were given greater attention from two fronts - Evangelicals on the Canterbury Trail, as Robert Webber called it, and disillusioned Episcopalians who were once again faced with a church moving farther from the orthodox center. This time the main concern was gender identity as same-sex marriage and openly homosexual clergy became more public.

Some Episcopalians determined to stay and fight. Others chose to align with other Anglican groups or seek full communion with the Catholic Church or one of the Orthodox jurisdictions. The pastoral provision, instituted by Pope John Paul II even made the way clear for Episcopal clergy to seek Holy Orders as Catholics.

Faithful Anglicans from other parts of the world, particularly from Africa, determined that enough was enough and sought to rescue Episcopalians from the threat of having to leave Anglicanism altogether. Ugand and Singapore first made a way for extra-canonical connection through the Anglican Mission in America, followed by Nigeria who established the Convocation of Anglicans in North America. While this was taking place, Episcopalians within the ECUSA were attempting to set up orthodox strongholds, becoming a "church within a church."

One of the standing jokes within the Anglican realm asks what the "one more thing" will be that finally sends traditional Anglicans out the door. With the consecration of Gene Robinson as the first openly practicing homosexual as a bishop in ECUSA, many felt that the one-more-thing had come.

The past few years have been filled with the largest exodus yet, particularly among the former flagship churches and dioceses within Episcopalianism. Two of the most well known ECUSA parishes are located in Northern Virginia - Truro Church and The Falls Church. Both are now a part of CANA with Truro's then-rector, Martin Minns, consecrated as a bishop for CANA.

The current Presiding Bishop, Mrs. Katherine Jefforts Schori, seems to be continuing to escalate the liberal agenda within the church as well as carrying out a search-and-destroy mission on more conservative dioceses and leaders.

In the latest salvo from the ECUSA to breakaway churches, the issue of property brought about legal action against eleven parishes by the Diocese of Virginia. So far, the courts have been more favorable to the parishes due to a unique law enacted in the Commonwealth during the Civil War.

Should parishes find a way to break the property lock that is held by the denomination, the exodus could become epidemic. More to the point, faithful Episcopalians still holding on may be asking themselves "what is the 'one more thing?'"

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