"The charges should have been dismissed, there was no investigation, the Standing Committee had no grounds for this complaint," said the Rev. Rusty DeMoss, Associate rector of Ascension, a solidly evangelical congregation.

In their letter to the rector the Standing Committee demanded four things. They wanted a personal endorsement from the rector affirming the ecclesiastical authority of Bishop Henry Parsley, and asked him to agree to three things: That the vestry has not renounced the canonical and spiritual authority of the bishop; that the vestry affirms the canons of ECUSA and that the vestry provides financial support for the budget based on diocesan guidelines.

The Vestry met and agreed to their demands.

The Standing Committee then sent a letter to van Dyke on Jan. 22 signed by Fields with three specific affirmations of the rector.

The first was that he was not to follow, seek or obtain the oversight of another bishop other than Bishop of Alabama as long as he was canonically resident in the diocese; that he would affirm the canons of the ECUSA and the Diocese, and thirdly reject the claims of the First Promise document he signed in 1997 which allowed for the possibility of alternative episcopal oversight.

If the rector agreed to these demands they would withdraw, dismiss or recommend no action be taken against him by the bishop.

The Rev. John-Michael van Dyke, who is on retreat said through a spokesman that he will respond to these charges and has taken them under advisement and is seeking God's face in prayer about how he should respond.

Both the parish and all the clergy are members of the Anglican Communion Network. The bishop, Henry Parsley later wrote saying that he was seeking ways of working towards reconciliation and the rector could stay in the Network without fear of being deposed. Parsley said he will allow Ascension to stay in the Network as "a movement towards reconciliation."

But the American Anglican Council promptly blasted and denounced the actions against the rector and Church of the Ascension saying they were "hostile" with canon David Anderson declaring, "In our view, the Bishop and Standing Committee have not only declared war on a faithful church but also on faithful Anglicans worldwide."

The AAC statement continued: "We were deeply disturbed by Bishop Parsley's attack upon the Anglican Communion Network in his pastoral letter of May 2004 and questioned his canonical authority in directing clergy to disassociate from an organization established under the Constitution of the Episcopal Church USA (ECUSA)."

Following months of discussions and negotiations, the Bishop led the congregation and clergy to believe that they had reached terms under which he would agree to their remaining affiliated with the Anglican Communion Network (ACN). At the same time, the Standing Committee was discussing moving forward with charges against Ascension's rector, saying he had "abandoned the Communion of this Church."

Anderson said the tactics used could be interpreted as "blackmail". "The letter urged Father Van Dyke to comply with their demands so that the Standing Committee "will not have to refer this presentment to the Bishop". The Committee's letter required Father Van Dyke to personally "endorse" the vestry letter as well as comply with a demand exceeding the agreement with the vestry, requiring him to "reject the claim of the First Promise document" he signed in 1997. The Standing Committee's charges of abandoning communion are based on twisting of facts as well as misrepresenting both First Promise and the Anglican Communion Network."

Anderson then accused the bishop and Standing Committee's charges as little more than "episcopal abuse of power, and we call upon Bishop Parsley and the Standing Committee NOT to proceed with such egregious action." "We particularly take issue with the third charge of the presentment which states that ' the actions and teachings of Mr. Van Dyke are in total disregard of the clear direction of the Bishop of Alabama, contrary to the Canons of the Episcopal Church in the United States and designed only for his personal self aggrandizement and popular acclaim amongst those not schooled in the history or tradition of the Episcopal Church nor of the scripture of our God and Savior.'" "Since Father Van Dyke has a proven track record as an orthodox Christian who has consistently preached, taught and defended Scripture as well as the doctrine and discipline of the Episcopal Church, one must wonder exactly what the 'direction of the Bishop of Alabama' is as well as how he interprets the Canons of ECUSA. In addition, we must ask how anyone can interpret standing up for the Gospel while opposing doctrinal innovations as 'self-aggrandizement?' Finally, who are those deemed "not schooled in the history or tradition of the Episcopal Church nor of the scripture of our God and Savior"? Given the fact that Father Van Dyke's actions and teachings are consistent with the four instruments of Anglican unity as well as the vast majority of Anglicans worldwide; given the fact that 22 of 38 Anglican provinces have declared impaired or broken communion with ECUSA; and given the fact that the Windsor Report condemned the very action of ECUSA that Father Van Dyke decries, one logically must ask: Are the Standing Committee and Bishop of Alabama suggesting that the instruments of unity, the majority of primates and Anglicans as well as the Lambeth Commission are "amongst those not schooled in the history or tradition of the Episcopal Church nor of the scripture of our God and Savior"? Anderson concluded saying, "We stand in solidarity with the congregation and clergy of Ascension and pledge our assistance in this difficult situation."

An independent orthodox group called Stand Firm for Faith with a chapter 'Stand Firm Alabama' has been formed nationally to address and rebuke the current sexual orientation and the steps being taken by ECUSA to modernize the interpretation of scripture. They have roundly condemned the actions of the Standing Committee. Spokesperson Jennifer Sluis is seeking public support for John-Michael and is demonstrating fundamental unity of beliefs. She is urging a publicity campaign in the media, and face to face with other Episcopalians and concerned Christians before the Alabama Diocese convention is in 3 1/2 weeks to make their voices heard for orthodoxy.

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