Letter from Bishop vonRosenberg
to the Anglican Fellowship of Chattanooga

I appreciated the opportunity to worship with you last Sunday. The congregation surely was made up of good and faithful folk who seek to support each other and to identify with a community of faith in difficult times. I was glad to be a part of that. Please keep me informed of plans and activities in the future.

Since the beginning of a faith community’s life determines much of the community character in the long term, let me offer a few additional reflections and observations as your bishop.

Please pray for the Presiding Bishop. To omit reference to him, when the Prayer Book rubrics call for it, lacks charity. You may have in mind a prayer for the change of his heart or, even, the biblical injunction “to pray for your enemies.” However, as a faith community, we surely can pray for anyone and everyone. In each communication from the Archbishop of Canterbury to the Presiding Bishop that I have seen – and there have been several – Rowan Williams assures Frank Griswold of his prayers. It seems to me that we can follow that good example.

I see from your materials that you intend to apply for tax exempt status in several months. All Episcopal churches and worshipping communities in East Tennessee fall under the corporate provisions of our diocese. If you intend to be an Episcopal church, then we could have conversations in this regard – conversations that could insure appropriate fiscal practices and, at the same time, make this process much easier for you.

Now, let me offer you some general questions and reflections that relate to the basic intention of this faith community. First, do you intend to be a group that only protests actions of the 2003 General Convention? I must say that the sermon seemed to indicate that intention, with repeated reference to the Eames – or, Lambeth – report and to the Primates’ reactions. However, my friends, the Eames commission will not exist seven months from now. And, in two years, we will be having another General Convention. If you are forming only in reaction to what happened in Minneapolis last summer, then your life as a community will be very limited.

Or, do you intend to be a more traditional voice and expression of the Episcopal Church – and of the Anglican Communion – in the Chattanooga area? If that is the goal, then the theme for Good Shepherd Sunday on May 2 more appropriately would have been Jesus’ Great Commandment – to love one another – than to have been fixated on conflict. In this regard, my sermon on that Sunday morning urged those who would be Jesus’ sheep to hear, know, and follow the call of the Good Shepherd. You see, that emphasis has staying power – the relevance of the Gospel for two thousand years and the means to find our way whatever the current issues may be. The Episcopal Church in general and our diocese in particular surely are large enough for a variety of perspectives on issues of the day, as long as we hold fast to eternal truths. Thus, as I have indicated previously, I would welcome conversations about a more traditional Episcopal parish in the Chattanooga area.

Or, finally, do you really intend to be an independent group, whose origin emerged as a result of Minneapolis and whose larger association really is not Episcopalian? Since the Episcopal bishop of East Tennessee did not know of your existence until after you had first gathered for worship and since plans for Holy Eucharist were told to me only three days before that event, it would seem that perhaps this third option may really be your expectation.

Therefore, what are your intentions? At this point, frankly, you seem to be hedging on your commitments. During our conversation Thursday a week ago, in fact, one of you observed that you seem to want “to have your cake and eat it, too.” Please be honest with yourselves and with those who may wish to worship with you, my friends. Bring your plans and your intentions into the light. Do not let your works be those of darkness, I implore you for the sake of Jesus himself.

I offer you my attention, my counsel, and the honesty of my perceptions. I seek, in turn, your openness, your honesty, and your truthfulness with me. Finally, in these difficult times and in all times, I assure you of my prayers.

Faithfully,

The Rt. Rev. Charles G. vonRosenberg
Third Bishop of East Tennessee

Copyright © 2004 The Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee