Mr. Bradberry seems to be endorsing a new, albeit schismatic direction for ECUSA. Faith may not be defined by the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC), the Archbishop of Canterbury (ABC) or the Primates, but the Communion is!

First, Mr. Bradberry should be aware the group of Primates he references not only represents a clear majority of Anglican Archbishops and Presiding Bishops, but at least five-sevenths of the Communion itself.

Second, if we're simply talking about the Faith, trusting the ACC, the ABC and the Primates long before trusting a General Convention of ECUSA would seem to be sound counsel.

Be that as it may, Mr. Bradberry seems to be suggesting what may rapidly become the position of ECUSA if it isn't already and that is schism isn't all that bad if it allows us to have our way!

Lay that over the fallacious accusations the American Anglican Council (AAC), the Anglican Communion Network (ACN) and ECUSA orthodox bishops have endured at the hands of our revisionist leadership and see how things appear. What is becoming increasingly clear is that ECUSA, in the words of the Windsor Report, is determined to walk apart from the Anglican Communion.

I would want everyone to know my position has not changed. Along with he AAC and the ACN, I am committed to keeping people if not congregations, and congregations if not dioceses and dioceses if not ECUSA, within the Anglican Communion.

It should be evident that we are involved in spiritual warfare over the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The underlying question is: What does it mean to be faithful? Revisionists say it means to be inclusive and, in order to do so, embrace the values of the temporal world. Those who would adhere to the Apostolic Christian faith say it means to be in the world but not of the world in order to be an instrument of the Holy Spirit to transform the culture into God's Kingdom.

Last month I participated in the annual meeting of the ACN. It was a marvelous event which focused on the importance of every Christian to stay aligned with the Faith once delivered to the Saints and be a part of the evangelistic mission of the Church. To assist each of us in those primary tasks, the Windsor Action Covenant was adopted and published with the recommendation that we implement it as individuals, congregations and a diocese. It is as follows:

Windsor Action Covenant

In order to stand firm in the faith of the one holy Catholic and Apostolic Church...

-Laity:

I will learn and profess the historic faith;
I will build solidarity with laypeople, bishops, priests and deacons who profess and practice the Apostolic Faith standing beside parish priests and leaders who are being pressured for adhering to the teaching of the Communion, and standing with those who stand with me regardless of what they feel they must do in their situation;

I will work with other parish and diocesan leaders to clarify our response to the Windsor report;

I will challenge my vestry with the clear choice to become a Windsor parish;

I will seek spiritual oversight and direction only from bishops who teach the historic faith;

I will build a personal relationship with and encourage the building of a parish relationship with an overseas parish and diocese;

I will commit myself to the disciplines of daily prayer, personal evangelism and discipleship;

I will develop a missionary attitude and practice in my personal and pastoral life;

I will remain committed to a life of personal holiness as embodied in my baptismal vows and, where applicable, marriage vows, family commitments, and daily disciplines; and

If General Convention chooses finally to walk apart, I will not follow, but will remain a faithful Anglican, God being my helper.

--Priests, Deacons

I will teach and preach the historic faith, actively supporting only those seminaries that teach the historic faith;

I will build solidarity with laypeople, bishops, priests and deacons who profess and practice the Apostolic Faith standing beside parish priests and leaders who are being pressured for adhering to the teaching of the Communion, and standing with those who stand with me regardless of what they feel they must do in their situation;

I will seek spiritual care and guidance only from those who teach and practice the Apostolic Faith;

I will work with other clergy and diocesan leaders to clarify our response to the Windsor report;

I will build a personal and parish relationship with an overseas parish and diocese;

I will build a team with another priest and parish in a non-Windsor diocese;

I will commit myself to pray the daily office and practice personal evangelism and discipleship;

I will develop a missionary attitude and practice in my personal and pastoral life;

I will remain committed to a life of personal holiness as embodied in my ordination vows and, where applicable, marriage vows, family commitments, and daily disciplines; and

If General Convention chooses finally to walk apart, I will not follow, but will remain a faithful Anglican, God being my helper.

--Bishops

I will teach and preach the historic faith, actively supporting only those seminaries that teach the historic faith;

I will build solidarity with laypeople, bishops, priests and deacons who profess and practice the Apostolic Faith standing beside bishops, parish priests and leaders who are being pressured for adhering to the teaching of the Communion, and standing with those who stand with me, regardless of what they feel they must do in their situation;

I will work with other clergy and diocesan leaders to clarify our response to the Windsor report;

I will build a personal and diocesan relationship with an overseas diocese;

I will commit myself to pray the daily office and practice personal evangelism and discipleship;

I will develop a missionary attitude and practice in my personal and pastoral life;

I will remain committed to a life of personal holiness as embodied in my ordination vows and, where applicable, marriage vows, family commitments, and daily disciplines; and

If General Convention chooses finally to walk apart, I will not follow, but will remain a faithful Anglican, God being my helper.

Because I believe I am called as a bishop to be a shepherd after that model given to us by the Good Shepherd, Jesus Himself, rather than a hireling who leaves the sheepfold when wolves or robbers appear (I believe those who profess heresy or commit apostasy are wolves and robbers), I personally have adopted the above and integrated it into my spiritual life.

And because every baptized person, ordained or not, is called to do profound Christian ministry and, therefore, also is to be a shepherd, I invite you to adopt personally the above and integrate it into your spiritual discipline.

By doing so, you will join me in proceeding in a direction which is building and supporting a faithful and optimistic future for Anglican, Christian witness in the United States.

The Rt. Rev. Peter H. Beckwith is Bishop of the Diocese of Springfield.