Posted on 02/10/2007 11:58:58 AM PST by XR7
Why?
Because they have committed the unpardonable sine: not being in favor of turning the church over to drunken homosexual activists and radical feminists.
ping.
How do you distinguish the two?
I guess in a sense the Africans are sending Christian missionaries to a de-Christianized America.
How do you distinguish the two?
Some homosexual activists are male.
I see more and more evidence that Africa is the best hope for Christianity in the world despite or, perhaps, because of the tremendous persecution, poverty, and other difficulties Christianity faces there.
The enemy from within comes to mind. I am glad to see these people not putting up with the bullsh*t from these radical leftist loons.God Speed.
The theology is irrelevant. This is a property dispute... if the Episcopal Church Diocese owns the church (and that's the way they're structured), and the congregation joins some other organization, then the Episcopal Bishop is right to want his stuff back. This is like an Elk Club deciding to become the Knights of Columbus. Fine... but they'll have to meet somewhere else, if the Elks own the Lodge
For better or for worse, the Episcopal Church structure is such that each diocese essentially owns the churches within that diocese, not the congregations. The same is true for the Methodist and I believe the Roman Catholic Churches. There are several other denominations where the real property is owned by a large, regional, or statewide body rather than the local congregations.
Some Dioceses have let departing congregations purchase the relevant church building, particularly where the building is heavily encumbered with mortgages. I believe this happened recently in Raleigh, NC.
On the other hand, the congregations of the Baptists and the Churches of Christ and other denominations own their own church buildings.
If you are thinking of making a substantial contribution towards church improvements, you might want to take a look at what body actually owns it if these types of issues concern you.
I was delighted to learn that our local Episcopal parish, St. Andrew's-in-the-Pines in Peachtree City, is leaving TEC. They have a beautiful church facility. I wonder if the leftist bishop here will let them keep it.
How do they expect to keep these churches when the parisioners stop giving their donations?
It seems that the African Churches maintain the traditional Christian doctrines, whereas the western churches have succumbed to the "Church of What's Happening Now" religious philosophy.
I wonder what Jesus thinks about all of this, property, lawsuits, and all?
Turn 'em into gay brothels.
Once the freaks have anointed themselves as leaders, then they can auction off the property and pocket millions. I personally know of an Episcopal property that sold for $45 million - and was donated to the church in the 1930's.
The money can then be used to supercharge the Queer agenda, as well as using church pronouncements to legitimize their behavior as "normal" and "part of God's plan".
That is all that is happening here. The congregations should fight tooth and nail to keep their churches and property away from the Vicky Gene Robinson's of the Episcopal "leadership".
There was discussion a while back on Brit Hume's program on FNC about one of these parishes in Northern Virginia, which Fred Barnes is a member of...apparently the local parish paid for everything they have, but it's probably one the diocese is trying to confiscate.
Your parish might want to study up on this story and it's eventual outcome:
http://www.wfn.org/2001/07/msg00171.html
The Church is to be built on the rock. And if the Episcopal church manages to confiscate the property it is of no great loss. The Christians who had met there will build new buildings. The defrocking carries nothing with it since those who have left have been recognized as Anglicans. There are far more Anglicans in the world than Episcopals. So you will have a bunch of empty former church buildings and new life in those congregations that have left the apostacy headed by the likes of Bishop Lee.
The Church is universal and triumphant and the likes of Bishop Lee are but a speck in time.
Amen!
Some of the churches/parishes in question predate the formation of the denomination which is now called the TEC. The other parishes are generally daughter churches of these early parishes. TEC can claim it owns the church properties outright, but it is no foregone conclusion.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.