Posted on 11/23/2005 8:40:03 AM PST by sionnsar
Things couldn't be sunnier in Your Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society. First stop is the Diocese of Rochester where the term "McKelvey's Choice" has just entered the Anglican lexicon:
On a bright and cool Sunday morning in this suburb of Rochester, the tensions between the Diocese of Rochester and an evangelical congregation led to this spectacle: Bishop Jack McKelvey sat in protest through a Holy Eucharist.
One day before, on Nov. 19, the diocese’s annual convention agreed to a proposal from the diocesan council that made All Saints Protestant Episcopal Church extinct, at least in the eyes of the diocese. Approval of this resolution, based on a rare diocesan canon, means the diocese considers the Rev. David Harnish, rector of All Saints since 1986, its former rector; considers the All Saints vestry dissolved; and considers the building and all assets of the parish to be in diocesan hands.
The approved resolution resulted from the parish’s repeatedly declining to pay its $16,000 apportionment for 2005. Parish leaders said their consciences no longer allow them to support the diocese because it favors ordaining gay clergy and blessing gay couples. For All Saints, these leaders said, it became a question of the authority Scripture has over the lives of Christians.
In other words, either send us your jack to support our apostasy or we'll declare that you no longer exist. But All Saints is going to make McKelvey work for its 16 gr.
In a letter dated Nov. 15, McKelvey attempted to forbid Harnish from celebrating the Eucharist on Nov. 20, the morning after diocesan convention’s vote.
“I will come to the church on Sunday morning at the regular time to conduct a prayer service and be available with others of my staff to answer any and all questions which members of your congregation may have,” McKelvey wrote to Harnish and wardens Bud Roberts and Frances Miller.
Instead, vestry member Al Bagdonas and a plainclothes sheriff’s deputy met McKelvey at the door. Bagdonas told McKelvey he was welcome only as a fellow worshiper, not as a substitute for Harnish.
“I’m here to share my pastoral care with anyone who may be here,” said McKelvey, who brought along a plainclothes security man of his own. “Your rector has been informed that he’s not authorized to conduct this service, so I will not participate in it.”
A delegation from Rochester’s Episcopal diocese — including the bishop and an attorney — requested the keys and assets from All Saints Episcopal Church Monday but left empty handed.
"We no longer acknowledge your authority" since the parish was voted out of the diocese on Saturday, said Raymond J. Dague, an attorney representing the Irondequoit church.
The church had been withholding money owed to the diocese as a way to take a stand against the diocese and the Episcopal Church USA, which supported ordaining a gay bishop without the approval of the worldwide church, called the Anglican Communion.
"We wanted to come by and request that the assets be transferred. It’s the responsibility of the diocese to protect the assets," Philip Fileri, chancellor for the diocese, told Dague and a handful of others who stood in the parking lot of 759 Winona Blvd.
"The church isn’t open and we did not bring the keys," Dague said.
Back and forth the attorneys went, arguing politely over whether the diocese has the legal right to take over the property. The bishop and others stood silent.
Not all of the requirements to dissolve a church have been met, Dague alleged.
"We respectfully disagree with you," Fileri said, adding that the place to talk about the issue was not in front of TV cameras.
Later, after the two attorneys had exchanged business cards, Bishop Jack McKelvey told reporters that not everybody in the Episcopal church has to believe the same thing but that there needs to be a sense of fairness when churches are linked together. All Saints’ refusal to pay close to $16,000 put an unfair burden on the other 52 congregations, the diocese has said.
"I had hoped that we would be together under one tent, but apparently that is not possible," McKelvey said. "I’m very much concerned about the people of this congregation... I’m saddened that we have to come to this place."
Betchar, Jack. I smell court case which means that attorneys fees are going to more than eat up whatever the Diocese might have gotten from All Saints. Thanks to Linda for the news link. Meanwhile in the western half of my state...
A group of Springfield area Episcopalians upset over decisions by the U.S. church is breaking away to form their own congregation.
Among their complaints is the 2003 confirmation of an openly gay bishop, which has splintered the Episcopal Church across the country.
The Springfield group of about 60 members will join a network of congregations loosely overseen by the symbolic leader of the world Anglican Communion.
The Ozarks Anglican Council, as the new group is called, plans to hold its first weekly service Sunday in a borrowed Lutheran church. The head clergyman will come from Tulsa.
"We’re doing what we feel we have to do," said John H. Simmons, who resigned in August from the governing board of St. James’ Episcopal Church. He had been a member of the church at 2645 E. Southern Hills Blvd. since 1972.
"It’s not been an easy and certainly not been a pleasant situation," Simmons said. "It’s been a very painful one."
He and other members of the Ozarks Anglican Council are the latest of an unknown number of Episcopalians — individuals, groups and entire congregations — who have defected since the 2003 election as bishop of the Rt. Rev. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire, an openly gay priest in a long-term relationship.
A Springfield rector is upset.
The exodus concerns the Rev. Kenneth L. Chumbley, rector of Christ Episcopal Church.
Chumbley, head of Springfield’s oldest and largest Episcopal congregation at 601 E. Walnut St., voted against Robinson’s confirmation during the church’s 2003 General Convention in Minneapolis. But he disagrees with those who have left what he calls his "spiritual home.""I think God weeps over what people inside the Episcopal Church and outside, now, the Episcopal Church are doing to the church," Chumbley said.
Human sexuality is but one of many concerns within the Episcopal Church and others, he added — issues that include cuts to social welfare programs and the deaths of U.S. and Iraqi soldiers.
"We’re all in conversation right now about a variety of matters ...," Chumbley said. "I believe that it’s important for people of different points of view to remain within the same church and committed to that church and to express those views in an honest and charitable way and in a prayerful way, and seek to know the mind of Christ."
I was opposed to ECUSA's recent vote to add the Koran to the Episcopal Bible. But I think it's "important for people of different points of view to remain within the same church and committed to that church and to express those views in an honest and charitable way and in a prayerful way, and seek to know the mind of Christ." Whatever, Chums.
Add this to the Virginia parish that recently bailed (it's getting really tough to keep up with all of them). Yes sir, things couldn't be better in Your Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society these days.
Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams. Do you know if anyone on the web is maintaining a running list of congregations that have bailed?
"I was opposed to ECUSA's recent vote to add the Koran to the Episcopal Bible. But I think it's "important for people of different points of view to remain within the same church and committed to that church and to express those views in an honest and charitable way and in a prayerful way, and seek to know the mind of Christ."
What in heaven's name does this mean????????????
I do not, sorry.
I think you have been taken in by a bit of snarky humor, my friend. There was no such vote...
and yet...
there is a truth in it. Last Sunday my wife joined our priest and several parishioners to attend a "Sung Compline" at the local Episcopal cathedral (ugly, but I have to say from the time I played my pipes in it years ago, for a friend's memorial, wonderful acoustics for a bagpipe). By several reports there was *no* cross on the altar, and there were banners lining the nave celebrating Hinduism, Sihks, Islam, Judaism, Christianity, and several other religions, all equivalent. It seems that the cathedral is trying to be part of (ECUSA) Bishop Swing's "United Religion [Initiative?]".
I think Chris has hit on a truth here... that ECUSA is even further gone than we think. Which makes me wonder why +Schofield and his ilk don't call an end to the whole charade.
Badda-Bump!! At last, an attorney willing to move the ball.
As Mr. T might have said, "Cheer up, fool. God's got it all under control even if you too stupid to see it.
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