Calvin Robinson Update

Proud of my Reformed Episcopal Church

Some of my readers are interested in the situation of Calvin Robinson and his parish, St. Paul’s Anglican, Grand Rapids. And there is not a little confusion out there. After chatting with Fr. Calvin and confirmed by a helpful report from Jeff Walton, here is the situation.

On the 2nd Sunday after Easter, the parish voted to leave the Anglican Catholic Church. I’m not going to rehash all the circumstances here, but I consider the departure completely justified.

The parish wisely did not want to make a snap decision, even if they could, to join another jurisdiction permanently. But they wanted both to receive the sacraments and keep their priest. And Fr. Calvin was eager to resume administering the sacraments to them. So they found a temporary arrangement with Presiding Bishop Ray Sutton of the Reformed Episcopal Church. And Fr. Calvin with joy said Mass for them this past Sunday for the first time in months.

Jeff Walton has a helpful report on this:

I have spoken with Reformed Episcopal Church Bishop Ray Sutton who has provided further information regarding St. Paul's Anglican in Grand Rapids and Fr. Calvin Robinson. Sutton has agreed to provide personal oversight while the church determines its future affiliation.

Sutton notes that Robinson was ordained to the diaconate by the REC's sister church, the Free Church of England, and that he has a "temporary" license to minister, but is still on the rolls of the Anglican Catholic Church. Neither the parish nor Robinson have joined the REC. As explained to me, a bishop may provide temporary episcopal oversight, but that's not the same as the parish or clergy joining the Reformed Episcopal Church (and, by extension, ACNA).

I will add that since the parish has voted to leave the ACC, and Fr. Calvin is going with them, if they are still on the rolls of the ACC, that is probably a technicality.

The above is not a novel arrangement. When a number of dioceses and parishes left the Episcopal Church after 2003, most found oversight from Archbishops from Africa and South America while a more permanent solution was in formation. Abp. Venables of the Southern Cone and Abp. Akinola of Nigeria were particularly helpful. The more permanent solution was the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA), formed in 2009. The bishops of the Reformed Episcopal Church greatly assisted bringing about ACNA and joined as a subjurisdiction.

So is appropriate that now the REC/ACNA is assisting an orthodox parish and its priest as they find themselves in a difficult transition. It is serendipity really. And I am proud that my denomination and bishop is doing this.

And, by the way, this is not “church hopping” on Fr. Calvin’s part. He has stuck with his parish when it was difficult, and his parish clearly wants to keep him. He was far more patient and open to a resolution with the ACC than was ACC Archbishop Mark Haverland, who did not even bother to speak with Robinson before stripping him of his license. And he has a past relationship with the REC and Bishop Sutton, through the Free Church of England and through speaking at the Anglican Way Institute conference at Sutton’s cathedral church. Really Robinson is sticking with his church parish while it seeks a good home jurisdiction.

I hope this clears up the current situation. Do join me in continuing to pray for St. Paul’s Anglican and Fr. Calvin.

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MORE:
I should have included this update, now on X, from Fr. Calvin.

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UPDATE: ACNA Archbishop Steve Wood has issued a statement. To say I am disappointed would be an understatement. I may say more tomorrow.