In the light of subsequent calls for Delegated Episcopal Pastoral Oversight (DEPO) and Alternative Episcopal Oversight (AEO) by orthodox priests in liberal dioceses, and calls for Anglican Primatial Oversight (APO) and the more recent call for something called "commissary" status by the Diocese of Dallas, the Parson's Plan sets forth a model of how a less than orthodox bishop could come to terms with seven traditionalist parishes in his diocese and make it work.

The Parson's Plan was simply this. Bishop Bartlett agreed to allow Bishop Parsons visitation rights to what were then called the "Seven Sisters" - all Anglo-Catholic parishes under the umbrella of the Episcopal Synod of America (ESA) within his diocese provided the parishes continued to pay their full assessment for the episcopate. Bishop Bartlett agreed to let Bishop Parsons make an annual visit to the parish, "representing him and acting under his jurisdiction, in order to provide pastoral and sacramental care." A significant difference from this plan and the Chevy Chase plan put forth by revisionist Washington Bishop John Chane is that All Saints' has to welcome Chane even though Bishop Ed Salmon (SC ret.) is their pastoral bishop. The "Seven Sisters" Pennsylvania parishes did not. Such visitations were in lieu of visitations by the Bishop of Pennsylvania. Another Anglo-Catholic Bishop Keith Ackerman was a participant in the Parsons'plan and visited St. Luke's Newtown where he confirmed and taught.

The leader of the "Seven Sisters" traditionalist parishes was Fr. David L. Moyer, rector of the Anglo-Catholic parish, the Church of the Good Shepherd in Rosemont, PA.

The deal struck said that the parishes pay their full assessment to the diocese, with the proviso that should a parish fail to pay its assessment the parish would forfeit its right to a visitation. It also said that the ESA parishes would seriously consider means of supporting diocesan program and ministries, though this was not spelled out nor were specific amounts of money advocated or demanded.

It was agreed at the time that such a plan would stay in effect till the 1997 General Convention, "in the hope that it will assist all parties in drawing into deeper unity in Christ."

At the time Bishop Bartlett said it would not be possible to create a non-geographical deanery, but he encouraged the "Seven Sisters" clergy to continue to participate in the life of their deanery. He also invited ongoing dialogue between the traditionalist parishes and the diocese as it related to the "Conscience clause" and Resolution B1001 ("on the pastoral study document on Human Sexuality").

Seven rectors signed the Parson's Plan document. They were; Fr. David L. Moyer, Fr. Robert Haskell, Fr. Larry A. Snyder, Fr. David Ousley, Fr. Philip K. Lyman, Fr. Harry Krauss and Fr. Vernon R. Austin. All seven were both evangelical and Anglo-Catholic.

The plan held together till Bishop Bartlett retired and his successor Bishop Charles E. Bennison was elected the new bishop of PA with promises he made to the seven priests that he would continue the arrangement if they threw their votes to him to succeed Bartlett. With these promises the traditional priests guaranteed his election.

Within a matter of months Bennison withdrew his support saying that he could not continue it, as he himself might face presentment charges from the House of Bishops if he were to extend the courtesy begun by Bartlett.

His lies and betrayal shook the seven priests to the core forcing a protracted ten-year battle with the diocese that continues to this day.

Of this group of traditionalist priests who still remain in the diocese, Fr. David Ousley lost his church, St. James the Less in a court battle with the bishop, taking 100 percent of his congregation out of the diocese and The Episcopal Church to worship elsewhere. The doors of the church have closed forever.

Fr. Snyder, St. Luke's, Newtown, still remains in his parish, and is still at theological odds with the bishop. Fr. Lyman gave up his parish property, preferring to walk out and start anew, joining the Anglican Mission in America and increasing his membership. His former parish, St. John's, Huntingdon Valley is just a shell of its former self with a handful of parishioners propped up financially by the diocese. Fr. Haskell has moved to the Diocese of Albany and his parish, Redemption, Southampton has been co-opted by the diocese. Fr. Harry Krauss continues in Parish Ministry, having gone from St Thomas' Fifth Avenue to being the Acting Dean of Rhode Island at the Cathedral in Providence. Fr. Austin has retired. Fr. David Moyer was inhibited and "deposed" by Bennison. He has filed two lawsuits against Bennison for fraud and wrongful dismissal and still resides in his parish, the Church of the Good Shepherd, Rosemont, despite efforts by Bennison to oust him.

The Parson's Plan is no more. For the brief time that it was implemented it worked well. Perhaps it might be time again to revive the plan as the Episcopal Church grows more polarized and as parishes flee to the ecclesiastical safety of overseas orthodox Anglican jurisdictions.

As an option it trumps Delegated Episcopal Pastoral Oversight (DEPO), and as revisionist bishops will never give up power allowing Alternative Episcopal Oversight (AEO) to orthodox parishes, the Parson's Plan could be an option.

However in the current climate of litigation, and with dozens of evangelical and Anglo-Catholic parishes fleeing The Episcopal Church in numerous dioceses across the country, it might be too little, too late. But for those orthodox parishes who, for whatever reasons, are unwilling to leave the TEC and who are not willing to flee to one of the 53 Continuing Church groups, the AMIA or the REC, the Parson's Plan might just be worth a second look.

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