When I became Dean of Nashotah House, I learned that it was the custom of the House to have a fall retreat. The Reverend Richard Cornish Martin led the retreat in October of my first academic year, having been invited by my predecessor. Fr. Martin, sometime rector of Advent, Boston, and St. Paul's K Street, Washington, DC, and a Trustee of Nashotah House, led an superb retreat for our seminary community.
As I began to think and pray about who I would invite to lead the first retreat for which I would have responsibility, one name came immediately to mind: Bishop Cox!
The Rt. Rev. William J. Cox was Suffragan Bishop of Maryland from 1972-1980, when he resigned to become Assistant Bishop of Oklahoma, the position in which he served until his retirement in 1988. I first heard Bishop Cox as a Lenten series speaker at Calvary Church, Memphis, nearly 30 years ago. Calvary was a moderate to liberal Episcopal parish—some might say it was an unlikely place for someone as well known as Bishops Cox was in Episcopal "renewal" circles to be preaching. But that was Bishop Cox—he would preach the Gospel wherever he could gain a hearing. Winsome, endearing, compelling—he continues to be much-loved by Episcopalians across the theological spectrum.
While a bishop in both Maryland and Oklahoma, Bishop Cox became a much sought-after speaker, preacher, and conductor of retreats. He and his wife Betty were active in Episcopal Renewal Ministies (now Acts 29), the Order of St. Luke; and Bishop Cox also served as Chaplain to the Brotherhood of St. Andrew.
Stocky, bald, wearing round glasses with his eyes appearing large through lenses as thick as Coke bottle bottoms, it is easy to imagine one is talking with the Apostle Paul when speaking with Bishop Cox. His voice is both warm and rich, and conveys genuine love and appreciation for everyone with whom he speaks. If an article were ever written explaining what it means to be a godly bishop, it would be incomplete if it were not illustrated by the example of Bishop Cox.
Even though technically in retirement, Bishop Cox has continued an active ministry. Now age 87, he has been the Episcopal Church's oldest living bishop. It is so hard to envision him as anything but a bishop that one is surprised to hear of his early military service and that he became a civilian pilot after he was in his sixties.
Today, the Episcopal Church's House of Bishop, acting on the recommendation of Presiding Bishop ☠Katharine Jefferts Schori, voted to depose Bishop William Cox.
What had Bishop Cox done that led to his deposition? In June 2005, Bishop Cox ordained two priests and a deacon at Christ Church in Overland Park, Kansas, after he was asked to do so by the Primate of Uganda, the Most Rev. Henry Luke Orombi. The following month, Bishop Cox returned to Christ Church and led a service of confirmation.
In April 2005, Christ Church agreed to pay the Diocese of Kansas $1 million over the next 10 years as part of a separation agreement which allowed the congregation to retain its property, and for the clergy to be relieved of their canonical obligations to The Episcopal Church. Christ Church and its clergy subsequently affiliated with the Province of Uganda.
It is important to note that Bishop Cox did not perform acts in any congregation of the Diocese of Kansas without the Bishop of Kansas' permission. He minstered to a congregation that had left the Diocese of Kansas and had been received into the Province of Uganda. Bishop Cox, as an Anglican Bishop, ministered at the request of an overseas Anglican bishop (in this case the Archbishop and Primate of Uganda) to a congregation that was under his jurisdiction.
In 2006, two bishops—the Rt. Rev. Dean Wolfe, Bishop of Kansas and the Rt. Rev. Robert Moody, Bishop of Oklahoma—presented then Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold with charges that Bishop Cox had violated the Canons of the Episcopal Church. Bishop Griswold forwarded the charges to the Title IV [disciplinary] Review Committee, which determined that there were sufficient grounds to proceed to trial.
Concerned that his presentment trial would be a financial and public relations disaster for The Episcopal Church, retired Bishop William J. Cox informed Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori on March 29, 2007 that he had left The Episcopal Church and had been received into the Anglican Church of the Southern Cone, by Archbishop Gregory Venables.
"I don't want a fight amongst Christians," Bishop Cox told The Living Church on 3/30/07. "I don't hold a grudge against [Oklahoma] Bishop [Robert] Moody or [Kansas] Bishop [Dean] Wolfe for bringing charges against me.
"At the request of another Anglican primate, I tried to minister to Episcopalians who had been made outcasts by their church," he said. "This is not the same church in which I was ordained." [Many of us who have been ordained a lot less longer than Bishop Cox can say "Amen" to that!]
"I would hope this transfer [to the Southern Cone] will enable me to be of service to congregations in this country that have already affiliated with the Southern Cone, but that decision will be up Archbishop [Gregory] Venables."
Bishop Cox is now listed as Acting Provincial Assistant Bishop of the Southern Cone, and he remains a bishop in Christ's one holy catholic and apostolic Church. He has earned the undying love and admiration of many, many of God's people—and our prayers will continue to be with him. God bless you, Bishop Cox!
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Network Chancellor Challenges Defamation of Bishop Cox
R. Wicks Stephens II, chancellor for the Anglican Communion Network, and legal counsel to Bishop William J. Cox, recently challenged the defamation of Bishop Cox.
Stephens wrote Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori on March 27. Noting the significant canonical failures in the purported deposition of Bishop Cox, "demand is hereby made that you right the wrong by which you have defamed Bishop Cox by immediately withdrawing your pronouncement,
" he stated. According to Stephens, the purported deposition did not receive the required consent of a majority of the whole number of Bishops entitled to vote on the measure. As such, it is "without effect and void."
Stephens also challenged belated attempts by Episcopal Church Chancellor David Booth Beers to put forth a novel reading of the canon. "When Canon IV.9.2 clearly and unambiguously calls for a majority of 'the whole number of Bishops entitled to vote,' it means precisely a majority of the whole number of Bishops entitled to vote (see, Art.I.2), and not a mere majority of those present at the time," stated Stephens.
Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori has ignored numerous canonical requirements in her attempts to depose Network and other orthodox Episcopal Bishops. Bishop Cox and Bishop John-David Schofield were both purportedly deposed during The Episcopal Church's House of Bishops meeting March 12. There were numerous canonical problems with the proceedings. Most significant was a simple lack of votes necessary to depose. The Episcopal Church's Canons state that a majority of "the whole number of Bishops entitled to vote," is required to depose a bishop for the charge brought against Bishop Cox. In total, there are 294 bishops eligible. Less than half of the bishops, 131, were in attendance at the March meeting. Some left before the vote, others opposed the motion, leaving fewer than a third of those entitled to respond to a voice vote for consent.
"For years, the leadership of The Episcopal Church has presented itself as a scrupulous defender of the canons and polity. It is sad, but hardly shocking, to see they never really meant it," said Canon Daryl Fenton, chief operating officer for the Network.
Here is the full text of Stephens' letter.
The Rt. Rev. William J. Cox, a Bishop in Christ's one holy catholic and apostolic Church
by Robert Munday, Nashota House Theological Seminary
Episcopal House of Bishops Votes to Depose Network Bishops
The House of Bishops of The Episcopal Church today voted to "depose" two bishops related to the Anglican Communion Network. The bishops are the Rt. Rev. John David Schofield of the Diocese of San Joaquin and the Rt. Rev. William Jackson Cox, retired Bishop Suffragan of Maryland. Before the action was taken, both bishops had come under the care of another province of the Anglican Communion, rendering the action of the House of Bishops a symbolic, but essentially meaningless, gesture.
"This is a bit like saying 'you can't quit, you're fired!'" said the Rev. Canon Daryl Fenton, Chief Operating Officer for the Network. "It will have no practical effect on the ministry of these two godly leaders, but instead makes crystal clear the scorched earth policy that the current leadership of The Episcopal Church intends to prosecute against those who can not in good conscience follow them out of the Christian mainstream."
"There is no question that both Bishop Cox and Bishop Schofield remain bishops in the Anglican Communion and will continue in ministry. We at the Network are thankful for their willingness to witness for the truth of the Gospel and fully intend to support them in their ongoing ministry," he added.
April 28th, 2007
Photo by Sherry Anderson
OKLAHOMA CITY--The Anglican Diocese of Argentina, operating as a missionary outreach of Province of the Southern Cone, conducted its first ordination service within the United States on Saturday, April 28, in Oklahoma City. The Rt. Rev. William J. Cox served as ordaining bishop and celebrant for the Eucharist that followed the ordination.Three ministerial candidates were ordained to the diaconate. The new deacons will now serve Anglican congregations in Tulsa, Oklahoma City, and in the Dallas area whose members recently left a schismatic U.S. Episcopal Church in order to restore full ties with the Worldwide Anglican Communion. During the last three years, the Episcopal Church has consistently signaled that it would rather abandon its place in the Communion than submit to the consensus of the World Primates on matters pertaining to biblical authority and morality.
The newly ordained include Jason Miller from Church of the Holy Spirit Anglican in Tulsa, Vivian Gardner from St James Anglican in Oklahoma City, and Roger Frye from Faith Church Anglican in Allen, Texas.
The Rev. Dr. Cliff Horvath read to the congregation of more than 150 a letter of greetings from Archbishop Gregory Venables, Primate of the Southern Cone who, because of a prior commitment, was unable to attend the service.
The Archbishop admonished the Anglican faithful to remain “strong and be positive, not condemning and rejecting those who have abandoned the revealed truth of the gospel but living as lights in a dark and perverse world, which God still loves dearly in spite of our terrible rebellion and sin.”
The Archbishop assured those in attendance that he was constantly praying for them and their congregations and encouraged them “to not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering as though something strange were happening to you but rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed.” (1 Peter 4 12-13)
Following the service, the homilist and Commission on Ministry Chair, Dr. Briane Turley, remarked, "I am deeply grateful to our Lord for this first group of deacons. Each distinguished him- or herself during the discernment process as an individual possessing not only impressive theological acumen but also a servant's heart." Turley observed that “with clergy like the ones who were ordained here today serving Christ and his Church, the future of orthodox Anglicanism in North America looks bright.”
April 7 ~ Saturday
A retired Oklahoma bishop charged with violating church law resigned this week from the House of Bishops of the Episcopal Church and has been accepted into the Anglican Diocese of Argentina. Click Here for the rest of the story.
March 3 ~ SaturdayDear friends in Christ,
I wish to solicit the congregation's special prayers for our church
beginning this Sunday, March 4 through Saturday, March 10. I would deeply appreciate each small group that meets this week and every individual in the congregation devoting special time in prayer regarding our new church building on 41st Street.
With generous support from our congregation during the December capital campaign, we have nearly completed what promises to be a lovely church interior. A few days of dry weather have made it possible for our utility crews to move forward with much of their work, and although several exterior projects are pending, our only remaining major hurdle is our parking lot. Yet because our campaign has thus far generated about half the funding needed (approximately $75,000 of the $150,000 requested), we are now facing a bit of a dilemma on how best to proceed
with our work at the site. In a word, we simply do not have the means to complete our parking lot, and without it, the city of Tulsa will not issue our occupancy permit.
As I have mentioned in earlier letters and in discussions, no one can assert that this is not already a giving congregation. We have simply taken on an assignment that can only be described as Herculean--giving up a church property, buying new church property, building a new church, hiring a full-time Pastor within a one-year period. While I am deeply concerned that we do not leave our church property lying fallow for an extended period, I am far more concerned that we do no harm, economically or otherwise, to our families, the beloved sheep of his pasture.
While I am not certain at this moment where the Lord is leading us in this regard, I want you to know that I am not in the least discouraged. After meeting with both Wardens on Wednesday afternoon, I was especially heartened to learn that an abiding peace has been granted to the entire church leadership. Each of us believes that our congregation needs to rely on God for every good and perfect gift. We have, in a sense, come to the end of ourselves now and must turn this entire matter over to our Heavenly Father for his disposition. It would be better said that
we now have a marvelous opportunity to turn everything over to Him and allow Him to demonstrate what He can do.
Please pray expectant prayers this week! Pray that, as it pleases Him, God somehow provide us the resources needed to move forward with our ministries on 41st Street. Ask Him to direct us on what we as individuals and as a congregation is being called upon to do (or not do) at this time. This is not simply a matter of finances; we need servants in every area of our church’s ministries if we are to be an effective witness in our new community.
Above all, please pray that God's perfect will for Church of the Holy
Spirit be granted us as we seek to clear this final hurdle during the
Lenten season. We simply cannot go wrong under any circumstance if we pray that His will be done!
Your servant,
Briane+
Ruth Glenhill interview with Archbishop Greg Venables Click Here
Bill Sherman, Tulsa World interview with Bishop Mpango Click Here
Bishop Gerard Mpango
Anglican Bishop from Tanzania Visits Tulsa Area ChurchesTulsa, OK, February 20, 2007 — The Rt. Rev. Gerard E. Mpango, Bishop of Western Tanganyika, Tanzania, Africa will visit three Tulsa area Anglican churches Sunday February 25 and Sunday March 11. He may also be speaking at several other Christian groups while in the Tulsa area, including a Roman Catholic church and a Baptist church. He will visit a congregation in Oklahoma City and several parishes in Texas.
Bishop Mpango arrives in Tulsa Thursday February 22 and will preach at Anglican Church of the Resurrection, 9583 S. Nogales, Jenks at 9 a.m. Sunday February 25. Anglican Church of the Resurrection is less than a year old and meets in the building behind Crossroads Baptist Church, 2525 West Main, Jenks. In addition to preaching, Bishop Mpango will bless Anglican Church of Resurrection’s new worship space and confirm several parishioners. Anglican Church of the Resurrection is pastored by The Rev. Don Lawrence and has been meeting since Easter 2006.
On Sunday evening February 25, Bishop Mpango will preach during Evening Prayer at Anglican Church of Saint Paul, 201 North Main Street, Owasso. The service is at 7 p.m. and will be followed by a dessert reception. Anglican Church of Saint Paul was founded in October 2006 and is pastored by The. Rev. Chris Waters.His last stop in the Tulsa area will be Church of the Holy Spirit Anglican on Sunday March 11. Service time is 10:30 a.m. at its temporary location in Broken Arrow—Chapel on the Hill, the church perched on the hill south of the Broken Arrow Expressway between 161st East Avenue and 177th East Avenue. Church of the Holy Spirit Anglican was founded in July 2005 and plans to move later this year to its permanent location at 12121 E. 41st Street in Tulsa. The Rev. Briane K. Turley pastors Church of the Holy Spirit Anglican.
Bishop Mpango will also speak at St. James Anglican in Oklahoma City on March 12.The Diocese of Tanganyika was established in 1966 and is geographically the largest diocese within the Anglican Church of Tanzania. Tanganyika is a rural diocese where 95% of the people are subsistence farmers living on a dollar a day. In 40 years, the diocese has witnessed astronomical growth—from a handful of parishes to more than 200 parishes with 400 congregations. Tanganyika has more than 400,000 parishioners and continues to grow daily. Bishop Mpango is assisted in ministry by 2 assistant bishops, 208 clergy, and 378 evangelists.
Bishop Mpango was born in the tiny village of Musanga, Tanzania in 1947 and was called to the ministry at the age of 21. He was ordained a deacon and a priest in 1974. He earned his B.A. in Political Science from St. Paul’s College in Virginia and his M.A. in Theology from Virginia Theological Seminary. He was consecrated bishop to Tanganyika in 1981 and two years later was elected diocesan bishop, where he continues to serve. He is married with three children.
All three churches hosting Bishop Mpango’s visit—Anglican Church of the Resurrection, Anglican Church of Saint Paul, Church of the Holy Spirit Anglican—are in the Diocese of Argentina in the province of the Southern Cone. The Most Rev. Gregory Venables is Primate of the Province of the Southern Cone, comprised of parishes and dioceses in Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and the United States. Another American parish of the Diocese of Argentina is St. James Anglican Church in Oklahoma City.
The Anglican Communion is a worldwide network of 38 provinces. English colonists and missionaries spread Anglican Christianity to every corner of the world between the 16th and 20th centuries. With more than 70 million members, the Anglican Communion is the third largest body of Christians, after the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church.
