P.B. Maintains That Ackerman Has "Renounced" Ministry

The Foundation for Christian Theology
October 17, 2009

It seems that former Quincy Episcopal Bishop Keith Ackerman has now joined the ranks of those prelates whom Episcopal Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori deems to have "[renounced] the ordained ministry of this church."

In communications circulated today, Jefferts Schori indicates that she had received word that Ackerman, a traditionalist, intends to continue his ministry by serving as a bishop in the Diocese of Bolivia of the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone, another part of the communion of which The Episcopal Church (TEC) claims to be a part.

The P.B. asserts in letters sent to Ackerman, however, that there "is no provision for transferring a bishop to another province." She provides copies of executed documents recognizing Ackerman's "renunciation of the ordained ministry of this church" and declaring his removal from the same.

The communications were circulated by Forward in Faith, North America (of which Ackerman is president), and were not accompanied by any further comment from the former leader of the Quincy diocese, the majority of which left TEC shortly after Ackerman stepped down as its bishop. Specifically, there was no confirmation or denial directly from Ackerman that he indeed plans to serve as a bishop linked to the Bolivian diocese. The FCT will pass on further information if/when it becomes available.

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