Archbishop Samuel Prakash: Whit Sunday Message

Whit Sunday Message (pdf.)

- The Most Rev. Samuel P. Prakash

Archbishop Samuel Prakash: New Year’s Message

View this document on Scribd

 
Primates 2013 New Year’s Message

 

Archbishop John Hepworth: Church to Hold Hearing in India

The Australian is reporting:

The Traditional Anglican Communion will conduct a special internal hearing in India next month into allegations of financial irregularities at the Australian arm of the church involving Archbishop John Hepworth, which were first raised by a priest he had tried to suspend.

Archbishop Hepworth yesterday said he had not been told what charges he was facing and would not attend the tribunal in New Delhi on October 6.

The acting primate of the breakaway church, India-based Archbishop Samuel Prakash, said the allegations against the Adelaide priest were yet to be tested.

“This matter was presented by Bishop David Robarts, a standing TAC bishop in Australia, and (is) under consideration,” he said.

Bishop Robarts yesterday refused to say what allegations he had raised with the church’s international leadership, but said he hoped the issues would be resolved at the tribunal.

Archbishop Hepworth, who was instrumental in seeking his church’s reunion with Rome, was forced to resign as the global head of the TAC in April, seven months after he raised allegations that he had been raped by Adelaide Catholic priest Ian Dempsey and two others in the 1960s.

A meeting of the church leadership in South Africa this year found Archbishop Hepworth had tried to suspend Bishop Robarts from the church on “insufficient” grounds.

Yesterday, he denied any wrongdoing. “This is la-la land,” Archbishop Hepworth said. “Of course I’m not going to India – I don’t know what I’m charged with. I wasn’t even a signatory on the church’s accounts in the last six years.”

‘la-la land’?

 

TAC Ad Clerum

From Acting Primate, Archbishop Samuel Prakash. Bishop Michael Gill writes:

This will be the first of many communications to all the people of the Traditional Anglican Communion as we move into new and exciting times.

Read it in pdf. here.

 

Archbishop Prakash: Message for Whitsunday and Trinity

It is available in pdf. here (if the images below are a little unclear).

Archbishop Hepworth, the TAC and Ecclesiastical Law

Fr Anthony Chadwick on his newer blog, As the sun in its orb, comments on the news of Archbishop John Hepworth’s suspension from the TAC College of Bishops, which I ’reproduce [in part] without comment’ here:

I had intended to leave this subject alone as when an article come up on David Virtue’s site about allegations of Archbishop Hepworth having been fiddling money. As for that accusation, I was reassured yesterday by a trustworthy person that the Archbishop’s church accounts had been audited and that everything was perfectly in order. Passons…

The story of the Archbishop’s suspension from the TAC, Archbishop John Hepworth Suspended from TAC College of Bishops has been published by David Virtue and reproduced without comment by Fr Smuts in South Africa.

I will just offer a couple of comments. Suspension in any Church is a canonical penalty, which is imposed for a canonical offence. I see no evidence of a trial and judgement…

It is also surprising that Fr Owen Buckton has been nominated to be in charge of a TAC entity whilst he is, by all accounts, fully committed to the future Australian Ordinariate soon to be established. Bishop David Robarts is also alleged to have been fully committed to the Ordinariate in spite of having participated in the College of Bishops meeting in South Africa. If this is true, he would have committed the same “offence” for which Archbishop Hepworth was being suspended.

The news about Bishop Moyer is old hat, though I am sure there is a second side to his story. In any case, Bishop Moyer has in writing expressed his acceptance of no longer being episcopal visitor for England. Postings about the TAC and the Ordinariates will remain extremely rare on this blog, and I will be especially vigilant about comments, but this one had to be answered, at least provisionally pending the availability of evidence…

Read it all.

 

Archbishop John Hepworth Suspended from TAC College of Bishops

We wake up to the news this morning:

Archbishop John Hepworth Suspended from TAC College of Bishops. Two New Appointments Made. US-based ACA Bishop David L. Moyer relieved of his role as Episcopal Visitor to England.

Virtue Online:

The governing body of the Traditional Anglican Communion yesterday suspended TAC Archbishop John Hepworth from the Church’s College of Bishops, which rendered him ineligible to function as Bishop Ordinary of the Anglican Catholic Church in Australia.

The authority has been transferred to Vicar General Fr. Owen Buckton assisted by Bishop David Robarts as Episcopal Authority with immediate effect.

The announcement was made by India-based Archbishop Samuel Prakash, Acting Primate of the TAC. The new administrators of the TAC in Australia are both members of ACCA.

“Hepworth is no longer permitted to serve as Bishop Ordinary of Australia,” Johannesburg-based Bishop Michael Gill, Secretary to the College of Bishops, told VOL.

Fr. Buckton is based in Rockhampton and Bishop Robarts lives in Launceton, Tasmania.

The suspension as Bishop pertains to both the TAC and ACCA. Bishop Hepworth had sought to enter the Roman Catholic Church through the Pope’s offer of an Ordinariate but had been rebuffed following allegations that he had been raped by three priests four decades ago.

He was offered laicization by the Roman Catholic Church but rejected it.

Gill told VOL that Australian traditionalist Anglicans were exceedingly unhappy with all the negative publicity surrounding Hepworth and wanted their voices heard and some action taken by the College of Bishops.

“Our need was to stabilize our people. Archbishop Prakash facilitated that, and is providing wonderful leadership in bringing this to a satisfactory conclusion.”

Gill confirmed that Hepworth indicated that he was intending to tender his resignation just prior to the meeting of the College of Bishops in Johannesburg.

“We accepted his resignation. Now Archbishop Prakash has relieved him of every administrative duty.”

When asked about the current position of Bishop Moyer, Gill said Moyer needs to respond to a letter from Bishop Marsh, Presiding Bishop of the Anglican Church in America (ACA) the US branch of the TAC, indicating his intentions for the future.

Bishop Craig Botterill of Canada had been appointed as TAC Episcopal visitor to England, replacing Bishop Moyer.

 

Easter Message from the Acting TAC Primate

Good Friday Message from the Acting TAC Primate

Traditional Anglican Communion College of Bishops Meeting in South Africa

UPDATE:  Archbishop John Hepworth responds.

I rely on second-hand sources for the following information on the Traditional Anglican Communion College of Bishops meeting here in South Africa:

1. Traditional Anglican Communion College of Bishops Rejects Ordinariate (Virtue Online)

The end came swiftly for Archbishop John Hepworth in Johannesburg when the Traditional Anglican Communion (TAC) College of Bishops accepted the resignation of their leader after a long battle with the wounded, self-inflicted Australian Primate who had sought entry for himself and his church into the Roman Catholic Church.

A majority of the TAC College of Bishops met at St. George Conference Center outside Johannesburg, February 28 – March 1, 2012 to discern a new direction for the embattled Communion. They elected Indian Archbishop Samuel Prakash as Acting Primate.

Twenty active bishops with 12 voting in session voted that the TAC would remain fully Anglican. A news release said that while it receives, with thanks, the Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum Coetibus from the Holy See, the TAC College of Bishops has voted as a Communion to decline the invitation.

Before he left the US for South Africa Presiding Bishop Brian Marsh wrote VOL to say that he fully anticipated a course would be charted that is unambiguously Anglican and under leadership that will uphold and teach, by word and example, the faith of Christ crucified. “You may be certain that I will do my best to ensure that any decisions provide for the spiritual safety of God’s faithful people.”

Every Bishop and Vicar General in the Traditional Anglican Communion was invited to attend this meeting. Of the twenty active bishops, twelve voted in session. Nine of the twelve churches were represented.

This meeting of the College of Bishops was long overdue,” said the bishops. “Over the past two years, several members of the College of Bishops had requested of the Primate an urgent meeting of the College. Anglicanorum Coetibus or the Apostolic Constitution had never been discussed or debated within the College of Bishops. Meetings of the College of Bishops had, in fact, been scheduled at least twice over the past two years. Most recently, a meeting was called by the TAC Primate for mid 2011. This meeting was canceled abruptly by the Primate. Accordingly, the meeting in Johannesburg was voted to be the overdue meeting of the College of Bishops.”

The College of Bishops voted unanimously to accept the resignation of John Hepworth as TAC Primate by resolution that states: “it is resolved that he cease to hold the office of Primate immediately. Archbishop John Hepworth vacates the Office he has held since 2003, along with the individual appointments which are the prerogatives of that Office. Such offices and positions are now vacant and subject to reappointment.”

Archbishop Samuel Prakash, as the senior active Metropolitan, was elected Acting Primate by acclamation. In so doing, the entire assembly expressed complete confidence in Archbishop Prakash, who was consecrated Bishop in 1984 and currently serves as Metropolitan of the Anglican Church of India. Archbishop Prakash was one of the original founding Bishops of the TAC.

Bishop Michael Gill of Cape Town was appointed Secretary of the College of Bishops. During its three day meeting, the College of Bishops passed several resolutions relating to the International Anglican Fellowship, Episcopal Oversight and Ecumenical relations between Continuing jurisdictions. The College of Bishops resolved to commit itself to Mission and Evangelism, recognizing that the central purpose of God’s people is to bring others to Christ.

Earlier in February Archbishop Hepworth, sensing that his day was done as leader of the TAC issued a “Pastoral Letter” over the pending split accusing some of his fellow bishop of “bullying” and canceling arrangements which they had entered into.
“Clergy and laity have been bullied and threatened with expulsion.” He also accused them of schism. “A minority of the bishops plan to meet shortly in South Africa with the openly published agenda of expelling all those who are at the various stages of discernment of the offer of the “fullness of Catholic Communion” contained in the Apostolic Constitution of Pope Benedict XVI.”

However it was a majority of the college of Bishops who met in Johannesburg and they were unanimous that Hepworth must go.
Hepworth pled for tolerance and said Anglicanism has always aspired to tolerance. “Even the persecution of Catholics in England was balanced by tolerance and respect in missionary regions. Anglo-Catholics and Evangelical Anglicans sustained a mutual respect and restraint in spite of vigorously asserting their positions. Opponents found this a weakness. Those of us who experienced it found it a strength.”

However Hepworth’s battle with Rome and his charges that he had been homosexually seduced by three priests hardly endeared him to Rome’s leaders. He also blasted a Roman Catholic archbishop for interfering with his parishes in Canada. In the end Roman Catholic officials told him politely that he could enter the Roman Catholic Church as a layman. Hepworth refused the offer.

Hepworth says the majority of TAC remain loyal to their oaths and promises on doctrine and discipline and to himself. “They are determined to protect their people and minister to them as they make decisions and undergo processes that cannot be hurried any more than outcomes can be foreseen.”

He included bishops and senior clergy, in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, Latin America, the Torres Strait, Australia, Africa and India, who are determined to continue their ministry, to respect the ecclesial bonds that exist between them, to sustain their Christian friendship even as some of them succeed (with their clergy and people) in being pioneers of Ordinariates that will grow, if they are of God.

Hepworth said they would meet with him shortly to celebrate their bonds of Christian commitment, and will take steps to protect their ecclesial identity.

2.  TAC College of Bishops in South Africa (English Catholic)

This arrived in my mailbox about the meeting in South Africa. I have no information other than what is given below. We await a list of those present at the meeting.

* * *

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 1, 2012

THE TRADITIONAL ANGLICAN COMMUNION COLLEGE OF BISHOPS

The members of the Traditional Anglican Communion (hereafter referred to as TAC) College of Bishops met at St. George Conference Center outside Johannesburg, South Africa between February 28 – March 1, 2012 for the purpose of transacting the business of the Church and of discerning a new direction for the Communion. The business was conducted strictly in accordance with the TAC Concordat.

The College of Bishops, the highest legislative body within the Communion, affirmed by resolution its faithfulness to the TAC. The TAC will remain fully Anglican. While it receives, with thanks, the Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum Coetibus from the Holy See, the TAC College of Bishops has voted as a Communion to decline the invitation.

This meeting of the College of Bishops was long overdue. Over the past two years, several members of the College of Bishops had requested of the Primate an urgent meeting of the College. Anglicanorum  Coetibus or the Apostolic Constitution, for example, had never been discussed or debated within the College of Bishops. Meetings of the College of Bishops had, in fact, been scheduled at least twice over the past two years. Most recently, a meeting was called by the TAC Primate for mid 2011. This meeting was canceled abruptly by the Primate. Accordingly, the meeting in Johannesburg was voted to be the overdue meeting of the College of Bishops.

Members of the College met in a spirit of prayer and with a desire to discern God’s will for the TAC. A majority of active Bishops and Vicars General who hold voice and vote attended the meeting and made several decisions of immediate import to the TAC.

The College of Bishops voted unanimously to accept the resignation of John Hepworth as TAC Primate by resolution that states: “it is resolved that he cease to hold the office of Primate immediately.” Archbishop John Hepworth vacates the Office he has held since 2003, along with the individual appointments which are the prerogatives of that Office. Such offices and positions are now vacant and subject to reappointment.

Archbishop Samuel Prakash, as the senior active Metropolitan, was elected Acting Primate by acclamation. In so doing, the entire assembly expressed complete confidence in Archbishop Prakash, who was consecrated Bishop in 1984 and currently serves as Metropolitan of the Anglican Church of India. Archbishop Prakash was one of the original founding Bishops of the TAC.

Bishop Michael Gill was appointed Secretary of the College of Bishops.

During its three day meeting, the College of Bishops passed several resolutions relating to the International Anglican Fellowship, Episcopal Oversight and Ecumenical relations between Continuing jurisdictions. Several appointments were made by the Acting Primate. There was a strong feeling among the members of the College of Bishops that a new direction had been taken by the TAC.

The level of attendance at this College of Bishops meeting was exceptional. Every Bishop and Vicar General in the Traditional Anglican Communion was invited to attend this meeting. Of the twenty active bishops, twelve voted in session. Nine of the twelve churches were represented.

Finally, and most importantly, the College of Bishops resolved to commit itself to Mission and Evangelism, recognizing that the central purpose of God’s people is to bring others to Christ. Several moving statements were made by members about the need to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a world deeply in need of hearing it. A program of equipping the saints for the work of Evangelism was supported by the College of Bishops with enthusiasm.