Bishop James Parker Dees a Low Churchman?

June 28, 1972

Memorandum To: The Clergy

Subject: The significance of the Episcopate, Holy Orders, and the Sacraments in this Church.

My dear Brethren:

Greetings!

As all of you know, we have been relying heavily on Bishop J.C. Ryle in the preparation of Lay Readers’ sermons.  Bishop Ryle was a man of great spiritual depth and was a profound Biblical Scholar.

Bishop James Parker Dees, 3/1969

I have found, however, that Bishop Ryle, in his writings, tends to minimize the Episcopate, Holy Orders, and the Sacraments.  He places great emphasis on the Scriptures and Biblical Truth and on a man’s personal relationship with God, but he belittles Ecclesiastical structure and the things mentioned above.  I have found that he has virtually no conception at all of the sacramental nature of the church, and he does not hesitate to run it down on many occasions in his writings, casting aspersions on the Episcopate, Holy Orders and those who are in Holy Orders, and on the significance of the Sacraments as well.

When preparing Lay Readers’ sermons from Bishop Ryle’s writings, we have wisely deleted Bishop Ryle’s observations concerning these things and have used his positive contributions in the area of the Scriptures.

I want to warn you all about this weak spot in Bishop Ryle’s writings.  His position in regard to these matters is not the position of this Church. 

[This] Church recognizes the Episcopate, Holy Orders, and the Sacraments as being the essence of this Church.  These things constitute the “esse” of this Church; and not just the “bene esse,” as some would contend.**  This is not to say that people in churches without the episcopate are lost.  It is to say that they lack something that this church has and which we think is necessary in order to have Apostolical ecclesiastical authority, and which we think is desirable for this and other reasons.

I consider the proclamation of the Gospel is also the essence of the Church.  If a church does not preach the Good News of salvation available to all mankind though faith in the redemption effected on the Cross, it certainly is not the Church of Jesus Christ.  We affirm that [this] Church is One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic in all that these terms imply.

Clergymen in this Church are expected to strongly affirm their regard for the Episcopate, Holy Orders, the Sacraments and the Gospel Message, and not to emphasize one at the expense of the other.  They all stand together.

Be careful, therefore, in using Bishop Ryle and others who may not have concern for these things that we do.

God bless you all.

Sincerely,

James P. Dees

Metropolitan

The Orthodox Anglican Communion

*Bold emphasis added 
**bene esse (of the well being), plene esse (of the fullness of being), esse (of the necessary being)