Official Statement on The Bishop Chip Edgar Incident.

On August 18, a Bishop of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA), Chip Edgar of South Carolina, participated in a joint Eucharistic service with a woman recognized as Bishop in The Episcopal Church (TEC), Ruth Woodliff-Stanley of South Carolina.

During this service, Edgar and Woodliff-Stanley co-officiated an altar consecration, which appeared to include formal blessing of the corporal and altar candles, for the new chapel of the Porter-Gaud School in Charleston, SC.

It should be noted that Edgar and Woodliff-Stanley did not formally concelebrate the Eucharist. Nevertheless, Edgar and Woodliff-Stanley closely flanked the altar during the Prayer of Consecration, led by an Episcopal priest, giving rise to an impression that he and Woodliff-Stanley were concelebrating together.

Edgar publicly partook of communion offered by an Episcopalian priest, then jointly administered communion standing side-by-side with Woodliff-Stanley in an apparent show of ecclesial unity. At one point, Edgar and Woodliff-Stanley were pictured sharing the crozier, a symbol of the bishop’s jurisdictional governing authority.

We understand that Edgar and Woodliff-Stanley both hold seats on the board of the Porter-Gaud School, an independent institution which seeks to maintain friendly relations with the ACNA and TEC. We also understand that Edgar and Woodliff-Stanley have worked to ensure a settlement following the separation of the Anglican Diocese of South Carolina from TEC.

However, none of these factors necessitated Edgar’s participation in a service of Holy Communion together with a woman who is recognized as a bishop in TEC. Under the ACNA’s Ordinal, bishops swear “to banish and drive away from the Church all erroneous and strange doctrine contrary to God's Word, and both privately and publicly to call upon others and encourage them to do the same."

Edgar’s actions have instead served to sow confusion and scandal in the wider body of Christ, giving rise to an impression of formal ecclesial unity between the ACNA and TEC, a body which condones homosexual behavior and purports to marry persons of the same sex. Edgar’s actions constitute clear canonical violations of Title IV of the ACNA’s Constitution and Canons.

Last year, another ACNA bishop and close colleague of Edgar’s, Chris Warner, purported to ordain his wife to the priesthood while she laughed through her ordination vows, prompting scandal in the wider body of Christ. This year, Warner and Edgar appeared side-by-side in front of Provincial Council, addressing the need for accountability in canonical proceedings. We believe that failure to discipline Warner at the time has led to the current environment in which Edgar’s actions are passed off, seemingly without consequence.

Under Title IV, any three bishops in the ACNA may bring a formal presentment against Edgar. We urge bishops in the ACNA to act accordingly, cognizant that any who delay may risk bringing their own oaths “to banish and drive away from the Church all erroneous and strange doctrine contrary to God's Word” under the Ordinal into question under Title IV of these canons.