VMRG Home

Statement

Via Media Rio Grande is an organization of clergy and lay Episcopalians in the Diocese of the Rio Grande . We are loyal to the doctrine, discipline and worship of Christ in the Episcopal Church USA. We recognize the General Convention of the Episcopal Church USA as the highest ecclesiastical authority in the church. We originally founded in response to an atmosphere of polarization between differing views and our need for reconciliation with one another in our diocese. We are committed to the active support of healthy and respectful dialog and interactions that constructively use our differing views to support the good work of the Diocese of the Rio Grande and the Episcopal Church USA.

 

Goals:

Background (fall ’04 to summer ’05)

A history of polarization
For many years in the Diocese of the Rio Grande, there has been a widening split between those who identify themselves as “orthodox, evangelical, traditional,” stressing “obedience to biblical doctrine and morality” and those who see themselves as “progressive Episcopalians,” advocating “diversity, respect for one another’s differences, open dialogue” etc.

There has also been a steady increase of alienation from ECUSA by diocesan leadership, including the open knowledge that our bishop, Terence Kelshaw, has refused to take communion at General Convention or with the House of Bishops since Bishop Griswold’s consecration, and does not attend many of their gatherings between General Conventions. Many who do not self-identify as “orthodox and traditional” have felt alienated by the leadership of our diocese, even condemned at times for being labeled as “divisive revisionists” who preach a “false gospel.”

Reactions to General Convention
After General Convention '03, Bishop Kelshaw and others in our diocese began inviting parishes to take the name Episcopal off their signs and letterheads (which some have done), assured members of the diocese that no money was going to ECUSA anymore, and that if parishes wanted to leave ECUSA, the diocese would help them do so. The bishop and other diocesan leaders also were active participants in the AAC meetings in the fall of 04, and there was talk in the air about a possible split with ECUSA.

At the fall 04 diocesan convention, there was a division of approximately 65% (for) and 35 % (against) resolutions that condemned the Diocese of New Hampshire and upheld marriage between a man and a woman as the only appropriate place for sexual relations. At this convention, the bishop also called for the election of a coadjutor bishop and his own 2005 retirement, commenting that “the time now is strategically right to elect the right kind of bishop,” and making it clear that he would remain very present and involved in that process.

VMRG origins, activities to date, future plans
After initial meetings between clergy and laity of the diocese in October and November of 03, in early December 03 VMRG asked for time on the agenda of a meeting of the Standing Committee in order to ask them to commit to a 2-3 year interim bishop to help us reconcile and take our time on an election until things settled down in terms of polity, instead of rushing ahead immediately with a search and election. We also intended to plea for a fair, open search and profile process that would end up reflecting the theological diversity and conflicts within our diocese. The Standing Committee refused to see us.

At this point VMRG sent a letter to all bishops and standing committees of ECUSA, requesting that they withhold canonical consent for the election of a coadjutor, in favor of us having an interim bishop, on the grounds that we are polarized, in need of healing, and in danger of entering into an uncertain future regarding polity in the diocese and ECUSA.

In January, VMRG held two large public meetings (approximately 300 attended) where those who attended were given an opportunity to share their hopes, concerns and fears about our diocese, with the clear understanding that all points of view would be honored and represented. Many participants expressed relief that this was the first time in many years that it felt safe to talk about things that divide us in this diocese.

We now have a diocesan mailing and email list of over 400 names, contributions in excess of $4,000, a Steering Committee of 8 people, a website, and regular meetings scheduled. We intend to hold discussions about the quality of the diocesan search process, its questionnaire, “days of discernment” for laity and clergy, diocesan profile, nominations, etc. We also intend to continue to actively work with others for the long-term health of our diocese, including the candidates for coadjutor and our new bishop.

Diocesan leadership: recent actions and response to VMRG
On January 27, the Standing Committee voted to join our diocese to the Network of Anglican Communion Dioceses and Parishes. At this meeting, they also passed the following resolution, and sent it, along with other commentary, to all members of the diocese. In this mailing they did not inform the diocese of their decision to join the NACDP.
The Diocesan Council and Standing Committee of the Diocese of the Rio Grande register their protest against the actions of the self-designated group Via Media Rio Grande, specifically, letters sent to each bishop and standing committee in ECUSA to subvert the due process of the election of a bishop-coadjutor in the Diocese of the Rio Grande, and consider that these actions are reprehensible, destructive of the life of the diocese and do not promote healing for the church.

Diocesan search process outlined
The Episcopal Discernment Committee, appointed by the Standing Committee, is made up of 13 people, 12 of whom are from parishes known to be self-identified as “biblically orthodox” and vocally pro-AAC and NACDP. Three of these are from the Pro-Cathedral in El Paso , whose Provost has been publicly named by Bishop Kelshaw as someone “who would make a good bishop for our diocese.” None of the members of the committee are from the Cathedral. March 1, a survey containing multiple-choice questions with an evangelical orientation was sent to an outdated and incomplete diocesan mailing list, and respondents were instructed to fill out one survey per household. It contains no questions about the current state of our diocese, the divisions among us, or what changes in the future might successfully affect healing among us. The clergy will meet once at a conference led by The Rev. Bob Key, Church Pastoral Aid Society, UK , who will speak to us about the episcopacy. The laity of the southern and northern parts of the diocese will meet once each. A profile will be drawn from the survey and these gatherings, and the timeline, very short for an episcopal search, promises an election on Oct. 16, 2004 .

Via Media Rio Grande
Background information
Prepared in March 2004 by The Rev. Brian C. Taylor