The text of the letter from the Wardens of
St. Andrew's Church, Syracuse, NY
to Bishop Skip Adams

January 2, 2006

Dear Bishop Adams:

We have your letter of December 20, 2005 and are surprised and dismayed at the things which you write. It appears as if the position on St. Andrews Church is unclear to you. Equally troubling is the reaffirmation in your letter that your “vote to confirm New Hampshire’s election of Gene Robinson as their bishop was fully in line with the intent of Scripture.” The Anglican Communion and the Episcopal Church are on the verge of destruction over your decision to abandon the 2000 year old Christian understanding of biblical Christian morality. Make no mistake: this is not merely a disagreement about human sexuality—it is a profound divergence of the fundamental way we understand the authority of Scripture and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Apparently the Windsor Report, the reaction of the Primates, and the resolution of the Lambeth Conference on human sexuality mean nothing to you, since you seem bound to ignore them and most of the Anglican Communion. Indeed you said as much in your letter before the Camp Allen house of bishops meeting when you said that being a part of the Anglican Communion is “not of the essence” of your understanding of being a Christian in the church. For us it is of the essence.

Perhaps the most disturbing thing which you said in your letter is your being “surprised” at our perception that you have never responded to our letter of September 8, 2003. You had no meetings with us as wardens when you visited, and there was no vestry meeting with you. Now you tell us that something written in The Messenger over the last two and a half years is your response to our letter. We wrote you directly on an issue which has split the church and has created a state of impaired and broken communion between this parish and their bishop, and got no answer--a fact which you now implicitly acknowledge. Now we discover that we were supposed to sift the old copies of The Messenger for your reply to us. On top of this you flatly told the diocesan convention that you did respond to our letter. Was this not disingenuous? Given this, is it any wonder that there is mistrust between this parish and the bishop?

We at St. Andrew’s have been straight forward with our decision to suspend payment of our assessment. We have never said we didn’t have the money to pay, rather, as stewards of the Lord’s treasure, we have certain criteria to follow in how we use it. It is not within the authority of the vestry of St Andrews church to support any mission that is based upon a revision of theology such as the actions of General Convention 2003 reflect.

We find your timetable for your acknowledgment of Fr. Hackendorf as our rector quite disturbing. He tells us that he has read all of the books your committee wanted him to read. When we started this process over a year ago in the Fall of 2004, you said that you would expedite the process. You received the Letters Dimissory of Archbishop Kolini almost a year ago, and have not acted on them within the 90 day period provided under canon law. Now you tell us that the six month period has not even started. Explaining your process to our congregation is at this point near impossible.

While we do not agree with your interpretation of the canons regarding Fr. Bob’s reception in your diocese, we find it unimaginable to think that, with the time you have spent with him and the 10 months you have had to review his credentials, there remains doubt in your mind that this is the man that the Lord called to head our parish. Our congregation doesn’t understand it either.

On one hand you say there is no linkage between the payment of the assessment and your acknowledging Fr. Bob as our rector, yet you then say that “our actions (or non-actions) in these areas are clearly putting Bob’s leadership capabilities in jeopardy.” Make no mistake here: Fr. Bob is our rector, and clearly the leader of this parish. Fr. Bob is not some unwilling follower of our actions in opposing the innovations of GC 2003, and is most definitely leading us in this and in all respects.

As far as the St. Matthias Society is concerned (which you and others from the diocese mention constantly), that is a lay-lead organization which was formed in 2003 in the aftermath of GC2003. It is dedicated to supporting those parts of the Anglican Communion which are faithful to the Gospel. St. Matthias Society has been very supportive of us at St. Andrew’s, but the parish does not control or influence its actions. None of our vestry serves on its board of directors, so we cannot speak for that organization. We would direct you to those who run that organization if you want more information about it.

Frankly the monies paid, or not paid, to the diocese are of far less concern than the general direction of the diocese and the Episcopal Church. Our diocesan convention has ignored the Windsor Report for two successive conventions. Provinces representing well over half of the World’s Anglicans have declared themselves to be in broken or impaired communion with you and the other Bishops who voted to upturn the Church’s teaching regarding human sexuality.

This issue will tear our Communion apart unless those who are breaking apart from the majority of the Anglican Primates repent and return to the “faith once delivered.”

We urge you to repudiate the actions of the previous General Convention before the Episcopal Church (USA), by her arrogant disregard for the Worldwide Communion, commits schism by walking away from the Anglican Family. We are determined not to walk away. Won’t you join us?

Our letter of September 8, 2003 stands. We will be glad to meet with you to talk about those matters, but frankly, we see little movement on your part to mend the fence which was broken by your actions over GC2003. We prayerfully await General Convention 2006 and its impact on our Anglican Communion worldwide. We will steadfastly remain a part of that portion of the Anglican Communion which is faithful to the Gospel and resists the grievous errors of GC2003. On this matter, Father Hackendorf, we as Wardens, the Vestry and the entire congregation at St. Andrew’s in the Valley are firmly and resolutely united.

Yours in Christ,

Mr. Peter Iannotta,
Senior Warden, St. Andrew’s in the Valley

Mr. David Moorhead,
Junior Warden, St. Andrew’s in the Valley


Put on the full armor of God so you can resist in the evil day and we would think it would end there. However, it doesn't end there. There is a great emphasis in the last part of the verse when it says "and when you have done all, stand firm." ......... In other words, we need to use all the diligence and effort we can muster to stand in the Christian life.
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