Have we joined a different denomination, by Bishop Jack Leo Iker

One of the allegations in the numerous lawsuits brought against us by the other side is the constant claim that “Iker left the Church and joined another denomination.” There are several problems with this, of course, beginning with the point that “the Church” is a much, much greater reality than the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America (sometimes called TEC for short). Add to this the fact that it was the Diocese of Fort Worth that left TEC (by a vast 80% majority vote at two successive diocesan conventions), not just me as the Bishop. I don’t even have a vote at diocesan conventions! And the third, we did not vote to join another denomination, but to realign with another jurisdiction of the worldwide Anglican Communion – the Province of the Southern Cone. However you cut it, we are still Anglicans or Episcopalians – two different words used for the same denomination all over the world.

As you are aware, TEC is an autonomous Province of the Anglican Communion, as is the Province of the Southern Cone. All 38 Provinces of the Communion share a common Anglican heritage and officially recognize the holy orders and sacraments of all the other Provinces (that is, we are in communion with one another). Just as TEC has dioceses in Central and South America (Honduras, Central Ecuador, Litoral Ecuador, Columbia, Venezuela, and others), so does the Southern Cone have recognized dioceses in North America (San Joaquin, Quincy, Pittsburgh and Fort Worth). We did not join another denomination; we realigned with another Province of the Communion.

In Scotland, we are called Episcopalians. In England, we are called Anglicans. Likewise, in Canada, the term is Anglican, while in the States, the term is Episcopalian. All are members of the same church family, holding a common faith and order. In border areas of these countries, church signs often have the wording that says “Anglican/Episcopalian.” It means the same thing. Not long ago I saw the sign out front of St. James Church, Piccadilly, in London that used this exact phrase to describe their affiliation as a parish of the Church of England.

In addition, as you go around the world, you find that TEC is not the only Province calling itself The Episcopal Church. The name is used in the Sudan, the Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East, Scotland, Cuba, and the Philippines, just to name a few. It simply will not do for TEC to try to claim ownership and exclusive rights to the name “Episcopal”!

Denominational lines in Christendom are much wider than our adversaries seem to recognize. On a global basis, denominations are broad families of Christians who come from various historic traditions, based on common beliefs and practices. There are Baptists, Methodists, Lutherans, Presbyterians, and so on, but within each of these groups there are a number of different jurisdictions. So let us say it once again: We have not joined another denomination, but remain part of the Anglican/Episcopalian denomination.

Let’s further illustrate this point by looking at some key legal, church documents pertaining to all of this. The Preamble of TEC’s Constitution says:

The Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, otherwise known as The Episcopal Church (which name is hereby recognized as also designating the Church), is a constituent member of the Anglican Communion, a Fellowship within the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church, of those duly constituted Dioceses, Provinces, and regional Churches in communion with the See of Canterbury, upholding and propagating the historic Faith and Order as set forth in the Book of Common Prayer.

Article I of our own Constitution of the Diocese of Fort Worth on “Anglican Identity” states:

The Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth is a constituent member of the Anglican Communion, a Fellowship within the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, consisting of those duly constituted Dioceses, Provinces and regional Churches in communion with the See of Canterbury, upholding and propagating the historic Faith and Order as set forth in the Old and New Testaments and expressed in the Book of Common Prayer.

The Province of the Southern Cone has a similar statement in its Constitution:

The Anglican Church of the Southern Cone is established as a Province of the Anglican Communion, a branch of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church which professes the historic Faith and Order as contained in the Holy Scriptures, to conserve the Doctrine, Sacraments, Ministry and Discipline of the Anglican Church and as observed in the Book of Common Prayer and the administration of the Sacraments and other Rites and Ceremonies, in the form and manner of Consecration, Ordination or Institution of Bishops, Presbyters and Deacons and the Articles of Religion maintains the ecclesiastical unity of the Dioceses and Provinces legitimately established and that are in communion with the See of Canterbury.

Before the “recent unpleasantness,” clergy and laity transferred freely from one Province to the other – bishops included – as circumstances required. Since our realignment in 2008, we continue to use the same Prayer Book, and Hymnal, buildings and polity, just as we did before. Who we are has not changed! Many of our people still call themselves Episcopalians – just not the kind that follow the innovations of the General Convention Church.

The churches of this diocese assert that we have “left” no one. They remain member churches in union with the Bishop and Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth, founded in 1982. All that our Diocese has done, acting by and through its duly constituted Annual Convention, is to amend our own Constitution and Canons in accordance with the procedures set forth in the governing documents of the Diocese.

And likewise, our diocesan church property has not gone and is not going anywhere! It remains in the name of the Diocesan Corporation, just as it has since the beginning, for the use of our congregations. The question being litigated right now is going to be whether TEC determines the identity of the persons elected to govern the Corporation and the Diocese, or whether this Diocese, pursuant to our Constitution and Canons, makes that determination.

It is clear from the above that both charity and truth require our adversaries to stop this silly little game of accusation that we “have left the Church.” Our time would be better spent praying for the unity of the Church of Jesus Christ than casting stones across our divisions.


The Rt. Rev. Jack Leo Iker
Bishop of Fort Worth