WORLD RECORD IN EPISCOPAL DEFROCKINGS?

EPISCOPAL DEFROCKINGS OF MASSIVE PROPORTIONS This is from thediocese.net. This has got to be the largest single day defrocking in the history of The Episcopal Church. I might check out Guiness Book of World Records and see if they'll consider it for publication. Yesterday, in an official act observed by two presbyters of The Diocese of Virginia and with the advice and consent of the diocesan Standing Committee, the Rt. Rev. Peter James Lee took the required canonical action to remove from the priesthood clergy inhibited by him on January 22, 2007. Those clergy were inhibited following a determination by the diocesan Standing Committee January 18 that they had abandoned the Communion of The Episcopal Church. The possibility of such a determination was explained by the Bishop in a December 1, 2006 letter to the clergy and leadership of the now- former Episcopal congregations. By this action, the former Episcopal clergy are "released from the obligations of Priest or Deacon and . deprived of the right to exercise the gifts and spiritual authority conferred in Ordination." In addition to losing their capacity to officiate in Episcopal churches or in any manner as Episcopal priests, the former Episcopal clergy lose their capacity to contribute to pension plans begun during their time as Episcopal priests and any other benefits of service as Episcopal priests or employees of Episcopal churches or institutions. Pension benefits accrued to this point will remain payable. Those removed from the ordained ministry of The Episcopal Church are: The Rev. Robin Adams The Rev. George Beaven The Rev. Mark Brown The Rev. Marshall Brown The Rev. Neal Brown The Rev. Jeffrey Cerar The Rev. Kathleen Christopher The Rev. Richard Crocker The Rev. Ramsey Gilchrist The Rev. Jack Grubbs The Rev. John Guernsey The Rev. David Harper The Rev. David N. Jones The Rev. Marion D. Lucas III The Rev. Herbert McMullan The Rec. Clancy Nixon The Rev. Robin Rauh The Rev. Valerie Whitcomb The Rev. Elijah White The Rev. Frederick M. Wright The Rev. John W. Yates II Of the 21 clergy determined to have abandoned the Communion of The Episcopal Church and subsequently inhibited by Bishop Lee in January, only one has made a good faith retraction and has had his inhibition lifted. The Rev. Nicholas Lubelfeld "has declared his loyalty to the doctrine, discipline and worship of The Episcopal Church" wrote Bishop Lee in the notice lifting Mr. Lubelfeld's inhibition. Mr. Lubelfeld has accepted a call to serve as priest associate of Church of Our Redeemer in Aldie, Va., serving under the supervision of the Rev. John Sheehan, rector of that church. In making his retraction, Mr. Lubelfeld sent a letter to Bishop Lee dated June 30 in which he states his "intention to remain a member of The Episcopal Church and of the clergy of The Diocese of Virginia." In that letter he also states, "I did not and do not intend to renounce or be disloyal to the doctrine, discipline or worship of Christ as The Episcopal Church has received them." He further states "I have not sought or received admission into any religious body not in communion with The Episcopal Church, or in any way severed my ties with The Episcopal Church." http://www.thediocese.net/News_services/pressroom/newsrelease40.html