Curious Goings-On at the United Episcopal Church North America

Allow me to preface this by saying that I have good friends in the UECNA, including a bishop (+Denver Presley Hutchens) and a few priests, and that while I disagree with Bishop Robinson on certain things I respect his work as an advocate of Old High Church Protestant Anglicanism.

Thus the rose; now the thorns.

There are some weird goings-on in the UECNA of late, or so it seems to me:

1) The curious case of Bishop Robinson and Ryan Louis Underwood.

I remember encountering Ryan on Facebook many years ago, being generally impressed by him and wishing him well as a young aspirant to ministry.  We lost contact soon after that, but lately I have been apprised of a situation in the UECNA regarding him.  It would appear that he's gone full crypto-puritan and has aligned himself with one Donald Philip Veitch, which relationship I have briefly discussed here. 

In 2021, Ryan was ordained a deacon in the UECNA:

Soon after, however, Mr. Underwood chose to get on the bandwagon with some rabid crypto-puritan ne'er-do-wells over the Reformed Episcopal Church's graviation toward a more Caroline and in some cases Tractarian expression of Anglicanism.   In other words, Underwood and Co.'s Sacred Calvinist Cow had been slaughtered, just as it was slaughtered by Caroline and Tractarian divinity in the centuries after Edwardine divinity briefly held sway in the Church of England.

Underwood's behavior in the matter drew the ire of his bishop:



Soon thereafter, Mr. Underwood and Bishop Robinson reportedly had a little tête-à-tête that resulted in Underwood's departure from the UECNA.  Underwood and Veith's relationship strengthened, resulting in among other things this truly cringeworthy series of videos:

Donald Philip Veitch's interview with Ryan Louis Underwood I

Donald Philip Veitch's interview with Ryan Louis Underwood II

Donald Philip Veitch's interview with Ryan Louis Underwood III

One might think that Bishop Robinson would have been happy to wash his hands of Mr. Underwood, but no.  A few days ago he appeared at Underwood's ordination to the "presbyterate", seemingly at the hands of +Bob Biermann of the tiny Reformed Anglican Church, though it's difficult to tell since he's listed here as someone who only "lead" (sic, "led") the service:

Which leads us to ask, "What in the actual heck!?"

And then there are things like this which can be found in certain Facebook locales:

I for one think Bishop Robinson owes us an explanation here, because his actions don't seem to match his words.  What is he doing at the ordination of a young man who has associated with the likes of Donald Philip Veitch, and who with him continues to run down the Reformed Episcopal Church in the most vile and unchristian sort of ways?  (You should read Veith.)  Robinson has made known his revulsion for the Oxford Movement and modern Anglo-Catholics.  Does he secretly side with Veith and his ilk?

And what does he do with Underwood's seeming desire that Norway should become a "New Russia"?

2) The curious case of Bishop Robinson and Aaron "Erastus" Long, Canon to the Ordinary, UECNA Diocese of the East.

I have posted briefly on "Erastus here.  When I watch the videos of this guy, all I can say is "words fail."  How this guy got to be a Canon to an Ordinary is anyone's guess.  Word has it that the guy has a German Reformed background.  The EUCNA is presently staffing several "independent Reformed churches" in North Carolina, including Paul's Chapel Reformed Church where Long serves as "presbyter", I guess.  Click that link and have a gander at some of the videos and posts by Rev. Long to get a feel for what's happening there.  But how this is even remotely Anglican is, again, anyone's guess, Long's slavish devotion to the 39 Articles notwithstanding. 

Long is an Admin at a Facebook group named Prayer Book Anglican, which is peopled by the likes of Veith, Underwood and other aforesaid ne'er-do-wells.  I found out very quickly how censorious Long is when it comes to those who challenge their orthodoxy.  In a thread in which the Orthodox Anglican Church (OAC) was attacked and which featured a photo of  my ordination, after I responded he not only restricted me to one comment per hour, but has deleted substantive comments, because it appears he does not have the intellectual capacity to deal with them.  I have complained to Bishop Robinson about it, but as of this writing I have received no response.  Here's Robinson's Canon:

 Here was my response:Which comment was summarily deleted by Mr. Long.  Such is the measure of the man ++Robinson has made his Canon.  However, if it is true, as Robinson has stated, that it is the goal of the UECNA to "live in peace and cooperate with those of like or similar faith", then a word with his Canon about this may be in order.  Taking a swipe at the OAC in a discussion group and then essentially not allowing members of the OAC to defend it does not seem in harmony with that policy.