Posted on 03/14/2004 1:18:34 PM PST by Theodore R.
Episcopalians meet and discuss future of the church
By Cara Eastwood rep4@wyomingnews.com Published in the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle
CASPER - A church is much, much more than just a building.
Relatives are buried there, daughters are married there, and it's the place where many people have their first experience in a classroom.
In church, many people feel safe, supported and at home.
On Saturday, in Casper, a group of Episcopalians talked about the importance of the church buildings they've grown to love over the years and the friends and memories they contain.
It's the church itself, and all its trappings, which they expect to miss the most should they decide to splinter off from the Episcopal Church.
Organized by the Rev. Skip Reeves, the Forum on the State of the Church called Episcopalians from across the state to gather together and discuss how their churches are coping with internal opposition to the confirmation of an openly gay bishop last year.
A group of more than 70 responded to Reeves' call, and in emotional testaments they discussed the heartache they feel at leaving behind historic church buildings, friends and decades of work and community.
But in equally resolute terms, they reinforced their opposition to the choices made by the church, which they consider too liberal.
Many who attended the meeting fall into the 'disgruntled' category and disagree with the direction of the Episcopal Church of the U.S. They are seeking alternatives to remaining within a church that they don't feel fully in communion with.
Reeves told the group that they're not alone in their dissatisfaction, citing examples from around the world where the fabric of the Anglican family of churches has begun to unravel due to the decisions of the U.S. branch of the church.
"The American Church is becoming irrelevant on the world scene," he said. The more conservative American Anglican Council is slowly amassing more influence with the worldwide Anglican Church, he said.
"I think the system's broken, and it ain't going to be fixed," Reeves said.
The Episcopal Church needs restructuring, Reeves said, and should be governed by separate heads that may or may not maintain a relationship with the Archbishop of Canterbury or the greater Church of England.
In a system similar to that of the Canadian Anglican Church, Reeves thinks conservative ecclesiastical districts should be allowed to choose conservative bishops to oversee them.
Reeves sought a license to minister from a bishop in Canada when he established his new church, the Church of St. Peter, Apostle and Confessor in Cheyenne. The license may soon be withdrawn, however, depending on how the Canadian Anglican Church chooses to rule on a formal complaint filed by Wyoming Bishop Bruce Caldwell.
The conference began with a review of the scriptural evidence supporting conservative views on homosexuality, morality and sexual ethics.
After lunch, Reeves opened the floor to statements from the parishioners, who testified to the difficult disagreements their churches have faced over the issue of the gay bishop and the blessing of gay unions.
Many people expressed frustration with Bishop Caldwell, who supported the confirmation of gay Bishop Gene Robinson. It's a choice many people view as out of step with the conservative majority of the state.
But the meeting was more than a forum for discussion.
It was also an informational session for Reeves and members of his new church to spread information about how to splinter off from the Episcopal Church.
"It's scary at first, but you can do it too," said Susan Oyler, secretary for the Church of St. Peter, Apostle and Confessor. "We just jumped in head first and started swimming."
Oyler shared with the group how to tackle a variety of hurdles associated with forming a new church, including the importance of establishing bylaws, writing a mission statement for the church and finding a location to meet.
She said it's important for the church to draw up a budget and become incorporated, especially if they plan to hire employees.
Starting from scratch, Reeves said, was strange for the new congregation coming from such a large, established church like St. Mark's.
But a benefit to the smaller, leaner accommodations, however, is that there's more funding available since they no longer have to support such a large and expensive church building, Reeves said.
The meeting left some who attended feeling empowered, while others headed home feeling incredibly sad.
"I'm excited for change," said Betty Jording, an Episcopalian from Newcastle who attended the meeting with her husband, son, and many others from their church.
Mike and Carolyn Moon of a congregation in Buffalo, however, said they felt discouraged as they walked out of the meeting room.
Both said they were frustrated that their only option, it seems, is to either live with the church's decisions or make a complete and painful split from the church they've belonged to all their lives.
"I'm not anxious to leave the church unless it's absolutely the last option," Mike Moon said during the conference, asking Reeves if there are any alternatives to solving the problems short of a complete break with the church.
"Isn't there any other way to right this ship?" he asked.
No, the conservatives must leave the group and not allow any of their contributions to go into national liberal coffers. It is all about money and contributions these days, I am afraid.
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