Remain Faithful
Orthodox Episcopalians Standing For The Historic Faith
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 2, 2008
Remain Faithful, an organization of over 575 orthodox laity Episcopalians and Anglicans from over 60 Dioceses with collective membership in the Episcopal Church of over 23,000 years is pleased to present its statement on the recent Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) held in Jerusalem. “We join in prayer and thanksgiving with our brothers and sisters in the Anglican Communion who recently gathered in Jerusalem for GAFCON and thank them for tireless efforts and witness to the world on behalf of all orthodox Anglicans around the world.” Chad Bates, Chair of Remain Faithful stated. “We are most pleased to present the following resolution approved by our Board of Directors of Remain Faithful.”
Be it resolved:
Remain Faithful, endorses in its entirety the Final Statement and The Jerusalem Declaration issued on Sunday, June 29, 2008, by those attending the Global Anglican Future Conference [GAFCON]. Remain Faithful supports the formation of a new Anglican Province in North America to be recognized by those Anglican primates subscribing to the Jerusalem Declaration. Remain Faithful is committed to serving as an active voice for orthodox laity in the development of organizational and governing procedures necessary for the establishment of the new Province in North America.
Issued this 2nd day of July, 2008.
Cora S. Werley, Secretary
For more information on Remain Faithful, including the organization position paper, or to join online, please visit the Remain Faithful website at http://www.remainfaithful.org/.
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For Immediate Release June 17, 2008
Remain Faithful, a lay led organization comprised of orthodox Episcopalians and Anglicans fully supports and prays for safe travel to all that are going to GAFCON- Global Anglican Future Conference from June 18-29. “Remain Faithful was formed just a few weeks ago, but we already have over 400 members from over 60 Dioceses. To underscore the strength of the membership in Remain Faithful- we collectively exceed 15000 years of membership within The Episcopal Church. We are pleased our organization is growing rapidly and we welcome all orthodox Episcopalians and Anglicans to join us. We join with our brothers and sisters in Christ who are attending GAFCON beginning tomorrow in our search for a full return of the Church to our orthodox roots”, Chad Bates, Chair said. Interested orthodox Episcopalians and Anglicans can join online at the organizations website at http://www.remainfaithful.org/
Remain Faithful has approved and released the following resolution effective today:
Remain Faithful Resolution
WHEREAS, the fabric of the worldwide Anglican Communion has been torn as a result of practices inconsistent with the historic, Apostolic and Biblical faith of the Church by a number of Provinces, including the Province of Canada [Canada] and The Episcopal Church [TEC], formerly the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States of America [ECUSA]; and
As a result of these practices, a crisis point has been reached within Anglicanism, and faithful Anglican Christians throughout the world are longing for Church leadership that embraces the true tenets of their orthodox faith; and
A historic meeting of more than 1,000 Church leaders representing 17 Anglican provinces and including 280 bishops representing 35 million Anglicans is scheduled for June 18- 29 in Jordan and Jerusalem for fellowship and consultation pertaining to the current state, and the future of Anglicanism in the world at the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON); and
Remain Faithful, a lay movement within the Church catholic that upholds the authority of Holy Scripture and proclaims the Gospel of Jesus Christ, prayerfully supports the efforts of those conferring at GAFCON.
BE IT RESOLVED, Remain Faithful calls upon the participants at GAFCON to:
*Prayerfully consider taking action to secure unity within the Anglican Communion in upholding the authority of Scripture and in proclaiming the Good News of redemption through Christ alone; and
*Set guidelines for common Christ-centered ministry all around the globe; and
*Issue appropriate statements in support of the creedal Church and orthodox Anglican doctrine in which the Gospel of Jesus Christ is uncompromised; and
*Join with the lay members of Remain Faithful and formally call for an end to the depositions or threats of depositions of faithful Clergy in the United States and Canada who have orthodox beliefs, as well as calling for a cease to the lawsuits against members, parishes or Dioceses within our communion; and
*Give consideration to supporting the establishment of a separate orthodox Anglican Province in North America.
RESOLVED this 17th day of June, 2008.
Cora S. Werley, Secretary
For more information on Remain Faithful go to our website at http://www.remainfaithful.org/ or contact Cora Werley, spokesperson at 817- 946-3865.
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June 9, 2008
Fort Worth, TX
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Remain Faithful issues "Evidence That Demands A Decision" position paper.
Remain Faithful, a group of orthodox lay Episcopalians and Anglicans has published today their position paper titled "Evidence That Demands A Decision".
"We are pleased to
These essential factors are our belief that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the sole source of our salvation, and the fact that the Bi
Remain Faithful
Cora Werley, Spokesperson for Remain Faithful went on to say, "So many myths have
“Since many Christians claim to believe that Jesus is Lord and the Bible is the Word of God and are calling themselves orthodox, it's important to us to make clear the distinction
Because if nothing else, Remain Faithful is a group that has experienced God's a
"We invite all lay orthodox Episcopalians and Anglicans to join us on our we
For more information visit Remain Faithful website at http://www.remainfaithful.org/ or contact Cora Werley, Spokesperson at 817-946-3865.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 22, 2008
FORT WORTH – A group of local Episcopalians met Tuesday to form an organization to respond to what they are calling a “proliferation of misinformation” concerning the pending split between the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth and The Episcopal Church (TEC) headquartered in New York.
The group, calling themselves “Remain Faithful,” has taken steps to organize as a non-profit corporation with the stated purpose of setting forth the true position of traditional and orthodox Episcopalians in this diocese who believe TEC no longer stands for the historic faith.
“Remain Faithful looks forward to stating clearly the positions of orthodox Episcopalians - and particular orthodox lay Episcopalians,” said Chad Bates, the group’s chairman. “We stand along side our orthodox clergy in support of our shared beliefs and feel the time has come for an organization led by the laity to uphold our traditional faith in unequivocal terms.
“We welcome all who share our beliefs or who want to learn more about what we stand for,” he said. “Without question, there has been some confusion about what we stand for as orthodox Episcopalians, and we look forward to clarifying our position.”
The group has established a website – www.remainfaithful.org — and Bates said the organization is in the process of preparing a detailed position paper that will be published soon.
Cora Werley, spokesperson for the group, said much of the misinformation being distributed concerns sexuality and women’s ordination.
“There are many within The Episcopal Church membership who have been told that the differences of opinion in our Church are primarily about women’s ordination or the views of a few Bishops,” Werley said. “We know this is not true. There are much more fundamental issues involved, and we look forward to clearly sharing our beliefs and uncovering the issues in a Christ-like manner,” she said.
Bates said that the group is comprised of a broad cross-section of lay people from throughout the Fort Worth- based diocese. “Up to now,” he said, “we have let our clergy do our talking for us. We thank God for their witness in our midst. But at this crucial moment in the history of our diocese, we feel called to make our own faithful witness, united in our belief that Holy Scripture is the revealed word of God and Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life and the source of eternal salvation.”
In addition to Bates, who attends The Episcopal Church of St. Peter & St. Paul in Arlington, and Werley, a member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Fort Worth, the group elected the initial Board of Directors as follows:
Carl Manning, Good Shepherd Episcopal Church- Granbury
Thom Murrell, St. Vincent’s Episcopal Church- Bedford
David Weaver, St. Alban’s Episcopal Church- Arlington
Judy Mayo, St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church- Fort Worth
Fred Keller, St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church- Fort Worth
Tim Howell, All Saint’s Episcopal Church- Fort Worth
Walter Virden, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church- Arlington
Rod Barber, Episcopal Church of the Holy Comforter- Cleburne
Pat Salazar, St. Alban’s Episcopal Church- Arlington
JoAnn Patton, St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church- Fort Worth
The steering committee that formed "Remain Faithful" is comprised of Episcopalians who have been members of the Church for over 1000 years, collectively.
Bates shared the group’s mission statement:
“Remain Faithful is a group of orthodox Episcopalians who believe the Bible to be the revealed Word of God which contains all things necessary for salvation as well as wisdom for Godly living. We are comprised of and led by lay Episcopalians. We are committed to speak the truth in love, communicating clearly the position of faithful orthodox Episcopalians upholding the authority of Holy Scripture. We stand firm with the vast majority in the worldwide Anglican Communion in our commitment to serve our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, to support orthodox Christian ideals and beliefs, and to spread the Good News of Jesus' gift of salvation to all.”
More information can be obtained about the organization at the group’s website or by calling Cora Werley at 817-946-3865.
