What Can I Do?


  1. You can pray for the unity of the church. Pray for Bishop Jack Iker. Pray for the Diocese of Fort Worth and the Episcopal Church of the United States of America.

    For the unity of the church:

    O God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, our only Savior, the Prince of Peace: Give us grace seriously to lay to heart the great dangers we are in by our unhappy divisions; take away all hatred and prejudice, and whatever else may hinder us from godly union and concord; that, as there is but one Body and one Spirit, one hope of our calling, one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of us all, so we may all be of one heart and of one soul, united in one holy bond of truth and peace, of faith and charity, and may with one mind and one mouth glorify thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
     BCP, page 818

  2. Join Fort Worth Via Media and add your name to those Episcopalians who do not want to leave the Episcopal Church of the USA. To do so, click here to fill out our information form. There is no cost involved – although we do accept donations to defray costs -- and this will not obligate you to do anything or attend any meetings. You can determine your level of involvement. Joining FWVM will allow you to get news updates and other relevant information via e-mail from Fort Worth Via Media as things unfold in the diocese, in the national church and in the Anglican Communion. Your information will be kept confidential and will not be shared with any other organization.

  3. Make an on-line donation. You can donate to Fort Worth Via Media, a fully tax deductable organization, by clicking on this link:

    Online donation system by ClickandPledge

  4. Help protect Episcopal Church property. While we pray this does not happen, if Bishop Iker and others choose to leave the Episcopal Church of the USA, there may be legal battles over ownership of property. Make a donation to Fort Worth Via Media’s legal fund. The money will be used to keep Episcopal property in the Episcopal Church USA. You can make a check out to Fort Worth Via Media Legal Fund and mail it to:

    Fort Worth Via Media
    P.O. Box 101212
    Fort Worth, TX 76185

    Should there be no need for this money, the funds will be donated in gratitude to the Episcopal Relief and Development Fund.

  5. Speak up for yourself. The entire Diocese of Fort Worth has now been inducted into an organization called The Network of Anglican Communion Dioceses and Parishes.

    This schismatic Network of Confessing Churches headed by Pittsburgh Bishop Robert Duncan is characteristically UN-Anglican. All too many of its leaders view it as a structure for realignment and replacement of our Episcopal Church.

    Henry N. Parsley Jr., bishop of the diocese of Alabama, states: “In my judgment the Network of Anglican Communion Dioceses and Parishes is a divisive organization outside the canonical structures of the Episcopal Church, the charter of which is undermining of the good order and mission of this church.”

    You can read his letter by clicking here or read ten good reasons for not wanting to be affiliated with this “Network” by clicking here.

    If you are concerned about our diocese being a member of the “Network” and/or you do not want to be a part of this organization, write to Bishop Iker and tell him you do not want our diocese associated with it. Consider also copying your letter to your rector, the Presiding Bishop, and members of the Executive Council. Click here for addresses.

  6. Educate yourself on the issues. There are many good sources of information at the national church web site: http://dfms.org

    Note: The “dfms” in the address stands for “Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society,” one of the official names of the Episcopal Church.

    Other good information is at Anglicans Online:

    http://anglicansonline.org

    There are similar organizations in other dioceses. See our links page for organizations similiar to ours.

  7. Consider running for the vestry at your parish. You need to make a decision quickly about this, as vestry elections happen at annual parish meetings, which are usually in January. If you cannot run for vestry, ask all the vestry nominees if they are committed to remaining in the Episcopal Church of the USA. If they are not, tell them you cannot vote for them and urge others not to vote for them.

  8. Attend your annual parish meeting and speak in favor of remaining in the Episcopal Church of the USA. Consider offering a resolution that states:

  9. Offer this resolution at your parish meeting:

    “We, the members of [Parish name], hold diverse views on many subjects. However, we also hold each other in love as brothers and sisters in Christ despite these differences. We are committed to staying in the Episcopal Church of the United States of America and worshipping at the Lord’s Table together.”

  10. Organize adult forums. Foster honest conversation on the issues faced by General Convention. Fort Worth Via Media has several people who can present programs on such subjects as the governance of the Episcopal Church, the history of the Anglican Communion, being homosexual in the church, various interpretations of Scripture and many other relevant subjects.

  11. Spread the word. Send us the names of other interested Episcopalians. All names and e-mail addressed will be kept strictly confidential and will not be shared with any other organizations. You can list these on the back of the information form if you wish.