An Open Letter to Archbishop Steve Wood of ACNA

Concerning his statement about temporary oversight of Calvin Robinson & his parish

Dear Archbishop Wood,

We in the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) are having an interesting week, aren’t we? I was having a joyous one when I saw that Presiding Bishop Sutton of my Reformed Episcopal Church (REC) had granted temporary oversight to Fr. Calvin Robinson and his parish. Knowing both Bishop Sutton and Fr. Calvin and having seen and benefited from the pastoral qualities of both, I was glad for all parties.

As I recalled, several bishops around the world gave many of us shelter when it was necessary to leave The Episcopal Church but we had not yet organized what became ACNA. So I thought it meet and right that now Bishop Sutton and the REC are giving shelter to Fr. Calvin and his parish as they discern how to proceed. I was downright proud actually. So, yes, I was rejoicing . . . until I read your press release.

I am probably being a bad Anglican by responding to you, the Archbishop of my province, so publicly. But your statement itself was public and attacks a friend, not to mention giving inadequate respect to my bishop, also a friend and a bishop who has served ACNA and the whole of Christ’s Church well. And there are worse things than being a bad Anglican, so I will proceed.

I completely understand the need to clarify the situation in a timely fashion, to let those concerned know the oversight is a temporary situation that does not prejudge whether Fr. Calvin and his parish is a good fit for us or we for them. There was some confusion, and some of the easily upset were upset. A succinct positive statement would have been therefore helpful.

I am less understanding of your unnecessary and unhelpful statements about Fr. Calvin himself. You pretty much did prejudge, in the second paragraph then especially in the penultimate paragraph:

“I am concerned to have the Anglican Church of [sic] North America affiliated with a leader whose public comments and persona consistently fail to exhibit the love and grace of Jesus Christ,” said ACNA Archbishop Steve Wood. “I have concerns about Rev. Robinson’s ability to uphold the full commitments of our Anglican tradition, and his ability to model the Christ-like virtues of peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, and love, I know all of our permanent licensed clergy abide by in the daily exercise of their priestly duties. I do not personally believe The Rev. Robinson is a good representative of the Anglican Church in North America.”

Where to begin in responding to that? But I will give it a try.

First, love and truth go together. They must go together. And Fr. Calvin is a truth-teller. And that is drawing people. I’ve seen him at several conferences, and people, particularly young men, flock to him. It is not a kind of “winsomeness” or wokeness that is drawing these, but standing for what is right in a society that has gone so wrong.

Or course, Fr. Calvin is not alone in so drawing people to the Faith. We are in a time of opportunity. “The fields are white for harvest.” Traditional churches are seeing an increase in young people, particularly young men, because they desire Truth in the midst of a society that feeds them lies. They are not interested in milktoast Christian leaders who are careful to avoid offending the easily offended. They are drawn to leaders who are both bold in telling the truth and have the time to listen and discuss. Fr. Calvin meets that need well.

Your statement instead risks repelling the very sort of truth-seeking young people that Fr. Calvin attracts. I’m already aware of one ACNA priest who has gotten a concerned phone call from such a young man in his parish. What kind of message does it send to such earnest men to issue your statement when the ink on Fr. Calvin’s license is barely dry?

Seeing Fr. Calvin close hand, his availability to so many young and old (like me) amazes me. I would not have the energy for that! In these and other circumstances, I’ve seen him model peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, and love. To say that he instead “consistently fail(s) to exhibit the love and grace of Jesus Christ” is bizarre, especially to us who know him but also to many others as well. Why engage in such a smear? Why so misuse your office?

As for those who know him, his parish clearly wants to keep him when it would be all too convenient to part. He and his parish have remained committed to each other in the midst of forces trying to tear them apart.

So you have prejudged and misjudged Fr. Calvin. But the problem with your statement is much bigger. The potential harm is much greater.

When you say that Calvin Robinson does not belong in ACNA, you tell many others they don’t belong in ACNA either. You particularly tell the young based men who are suddenly going to church that they would be better off in another church. That is surely not your intent. But that is what your statement communicates.

I often communicate with those interested in ACNA or in finding an Anglican church. I’ve lost count of the times I’ve had to explain away statements and practices of this and that ACNA cleric. I’ve oft explained that ACNA is mixed but as a whole orthodox. But how can I and others credibly explain away a statement from the Archbishop himself? You’ve just made the task of attracting and retaining sound orthodox people that much more difficult for me and for many ACNA priests and parishes.

“Anglican” is already becoming a byword for timidity and wokeness. You and I know that is neither accurate nor fair. But that is how too many already see us regardless.

Again, that is not your intent. Feeding that perception is not your intent. So I beg you: apologize and retract the statement. Wish Fr. Calvin and his parish God’s best whatever they eventually decide. Thank Bishop Sutton for making his oversight and his excellent pastoral abilities available to Fr. Calvin and St. Paul’s Anglican when there are so many demands on him already.

Fr. Calvin has apologized publicly for a past error or two. It is time for you to do likewise. It is urgent you do likewise.

Have a blessed remainder of the Easter season.

Mark Marshall

——

Anglican Unscripted overnight was excellent on this topic.