Correspondence between the Episcopal Bishop of Maryland and the Anglican Archbishop of West Africa after the Dar es Salaam Primates Meeting in February 2007
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first reply.
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The Most Reverend Justice O. Akrofi
Archbishop of West Africa and Bishop of Accra
Bishopscourt, P.O. Box GP 8
Accra, Ghana
February 17, 2007
Dear +Justice,
It is with sadness that I need to rescind my invitation to you to be with
us in late March into early April, 2007. Yesterday I learned you were
one of seven primates who have boycotted the Eucharist at the Primates
Meeting in Dar es Salaam, and +Peter Akinola's statement on behalf of
the seven of you is in all the newspapers. I have received a number of
emails from clergy in this Diocese expressing their disapproval of your
action. The Diocesan Council met today and agrees that you cannot be welcomed
in Maryland under the circumstances. For my own part, I am disappointed
you would use the Holy Sacrament of our Lord's Body and Blood as a political
tool - I had assumed your sacramental theology was more thoroughly Anglican.
Mostly I am sorry after so many years to end our personal relationship
on this note.
It is obvious to everyone here that it would now be completely inappropriate
for you to celebrate the Eucharist at our Cathedral on Palm Sunday. Surely,
many parishioners would protest your visit by not receiving Communion
from you. Since I do not allow such behavior in this Diocese, I cannot
encourage it by your presence. Clearly it would be inappropriate for you
to preach Tuesday in Holy Week to a combined group of Lutheran and Episcopal
clergy, since you do not even share Communion with other Anglicans. Finally,
it is sadly clear to Nancy and me that your presence at my retirement
celebration is out of order as well. I give thanks for the eight years
we have been in relationship; we have many friends in Accra and in Ghana,
and I am aware that there are a number of them who will be shocked and
grieved by your behavior. I have always shared honestly with you (even
though I have not felt in the past two years you have been so honest in
your sharing) and want to say we have great affection for the +Justice
we knew in those earlier years. Since becoming Archbishop, you have changed
and I do not feel I know you anymore.
I am not at this time calling for an end of the Companion Diocese relationship,
although this development puts that relationship at risk. I am content
to let the Holy Spirit guide our Dioceses into appropriate discernment
(a discernment which will take place after my retirement and without my
input). As a Diocese, Maryland is committed, as am I, to the continuation
of projects already begun in Accra and relationships in Accra which I
and many others here cherish. Our special Lenten offerings will go to
assist children in your Diocese, I continue to be very supportive of Ghanaian
Mothers' Hope spearheaded by Debbi Frock, and we celebrate our ongoing
Cursillo commitments.
Let me assure you I am not angry as I write this but deeply disappointed.
The Diocese of Accra and its parishes remain on our Diocesan Prayer list
from week-to-week, and you will remain in my prayers and those of our
Diocesan family. Please continue to pray for us. There was much I had
hoped to show you and tell you in your upcoming visit, much we had hoped
to plan together, especially as it relates to youth ministry, a high priority
for both of our Dioceses. Perhaps some of that can continue in some different
form; personally, I am sad that I will not be a part of it.
Your faithful brother in Christ,
(The Right Reverend) Robert W. Ihloff, Bishop of Maryland
Date: 4/17/2007
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