Bishop James Parker Dees a Low Churchman? Part 3

Bishop Dees is often remembered by traditional Anglicans for limiting his parishes to one celebration of Holy Communion a month.  However, when his actual views are examined the story is more complicated.   

Excerpts from “A Position Paper by the Presiding Bishop Concerning Worship…” by Bishop James Parker Dees dated November 1, 1980. 

“THIS CHURCH recognizes Holy Communion to be its principle service of worship;” 



Bishop James Parker Dees

Holy Communion should be celebrated “…the first Sunday in each month and on feast days, Saints’ Days, and other outstanding occasions such as ordinations, consecration of bishops, consecration of churches, installation of clergy, bishop’s visitations, outstanding holidays such as Thanksgiving, Independence Day, etc. “ 

“…it is permissible to transfer the celebration of a saint’s day to the nearest Sunday.” 

“It is in our tradition to hold regularly a morning Celebration of the Holy Communion once a week on a week day, if desired.” 

James P. Dees

Metropolitan

The Orthodox Anglican Communion 

Another directive sets forth the feast days and saint’s days to be celebrated in the jurisdiction.  The number of feast and saints days on this list total nearly 40 in number.  If the opportunities to celebrate Holy Communion are totaled (1^st Sunday, weekly weekday service, feast days, saint’s days, episcopal visitations, and secular Holidays) a parish could conceivably have held Holy Communion roughly 100 times a year.  The possibility of even more celebrations existed if there was a wedding, funeral, ordination, or installation.   

The official scheme Bishop Dees lays forth on paper may not be ideal or desired by many Traditional Anglicans today, but, at least on paper, his views cannot be accurately described as having necessitated the starving of the sheep for lack of the Sacrament.