Today, Forward in Faith NA (FiFNA) President, Bishop Keith L. Ackerman, issued a formal statement responding to the unsolicited release and deposition from ministry as a bishop by Dr. Schori who heads The Episcopal Church (TEC). This is another case of a failure of TEC to communicate or show any pastoral concern with those who have faithfully served for years, in Bishop Ackerman's case 35 years. Bishop Ackerman has been forced to seek employment to provide for his medical insurance being a bishop retired of TEC.
FiFNA is pleased that Bishop Ackerman will continue his ministry function our Anglican friends in Bolivia. It is a disappointment that FiFNA members in the TEC will have a more difficult time receiving pastoral care and to freely participate in an organization which spans a broad section of Anglicans in North America.
Bishop Ackerman said, "I believe people, so many friends, needed to hear that I have not renounced my orders. I am still an Anglican just like my grandparents were; Thanks be to God." [editorial commentary by the Rev'd Keith Acker, Public Relations FiFNA]

From: Bishop K.L. Ackerman
Sent: Monday, October 19, 2009 11:40 AM

Members of the press:

I greet you in the precious Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, whose servant I am.

When I retired one year ago as the Bishop, Diocese of Quincy, the Episcopal Church, I did so for reasons of physical, spiritual and emotional distress, related to the ongoing demise of the Episcopal Church. When promised assistance with my health insurance was denied by the Episcopal Church Center in freezing invested funds in Quincy, my health insurance was cancelled. It, therefore, became necessary for me to seek part time employment that would provide the money necessary to have health insurance.

I accepted a position counseling the homeless, and the unemployed, in a Christian non-profit organization in Dallas, Texas. It became necessary for me to learn Spanish since 95% of the people with whom I am counseling speak only Spanish.

I did so and this experience made it possible for me to respond positively to the kind invitation of the Bishop of Bolivia, to minister part time, in addition to assisting part time in the Diocese of Springfield (IL). Both dioceses are duly recognized members of the Anglican Communion. I saw no conflict of interest with The Episcopal Church, but wrote the Presiding Bishop for clarification in July, 2009 and believed that there would be no problem with this extension of ministry.

This letter was handwritten, sharing with the Presiding Bishop my current health, my new ministry with the homeless, my desire to assist another Anglican partner in ministry in Bolivia and, at their invitation, to participate informally (seat but no voice and no vote) in the House of Bishops of the Southern Cone. At no time did I express dissatisfaction with the Episcopal Church, or make any statement of a desire to be separated from it.

I made no copies of my letter because I wanted it to be clear that this was a very personal communication. She responded (written letter) by telling me that she would send the appropriate documentation. After two months with no communication, I sent another handwritten, unduplicated letter asking about this matter.

This past Friday, October 16, 2009, I received an e-mail from the Presiding Bishop, “indicating that there is no provision for transferring a bishop to another Province.” At no time did I request transfer to the Southern Cone. Her letter concluded, “I am therefore releasing you from the obligations of ordained ministry in the Episcopal Church”.

I did not ask for release and have never considered ministry in this Church an obligation, since it has been the source of my greatest joy.

I have not renounced, and in fact, in my first handwritten letter indicated that my intention was not to be seen as either “abandonment of the Communion” or “Renunciation.”

I have never received telephone calls from either the Presiding Bishop or any member of her staff asking for clarification. I can only conclude that assumptions were made in the press of events, which are incorrect. I intend to continue my ministry wherever possible.

Yours in Christ,

The Rt. Rev. Keith L. Ackerman, Bishop of Quincy, retired