Posted on 12/16/2005 5:48:49 PM PST by sionnsar
Peter Carnley? The Panel of Reference might want to pick up the pace some:
On December 12, 2005 a letter was delivered to Bishop Howard which stated that during the first week of January, five congregations will transfer from the Episcopal Diocese of Florida to other provinces within the worldwide Anglican Communion. These congregations seek to remain faithful to Christ and be in full communion with the majority of the members in the larger Communion.
The congregations are Grace Church in Orange Park, St. Lukes Community of Life in Tallahassee, St. Michaels in Gainesville, and Redeemer and All Souls both in Jacksonville. St. Michaels will be renamed Servants of Christ.
They are realigning variously with the different overseas Anglican provinces. Other congregations in the Diocese of Florida are planning to take similar actions in the next few months.
The congregations are not joining any other denomination, but instead are remaining faithful Anglicans. They are members of the Anglican Alliance of North Florida which was formed in September 2005 to provide Biblically-centered churches and clergy in the Anglican Communion a framework for unified witness and ministry in North Florida.Three of the parishes have been facing an imminent threat from the bishop and leadership of the diocese to take over these congregations, an action that is not mandatory according to church law. These parishes out of conscience stopped their voluntary pledging when the diocese continued to support the national Episcopal Church after General Convention 2003.
The Rev. Neil G. Lebhar, Rector of Church of the Redeemer, said, "We have sadly watched firsthand as theological and moral decay advanced within the Episcopal Church. One of the marks of a true church is the ability to exercise both doctrinal and ethical discipline, a mark increasingly absent in the Episcopal Church."
The Episcopal Churchs unbiblical actions and failures to act have splintered the Anglican Communion.
Because at the rate you're going, there won't be anyone around to care about whatever you come up with. Assuming you come up with anything at all.
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.