Posted on 02/08/2006 7:21:39 AM PST by Dane
2nd church quits Episcopal diocese
Sexuality is an issue in its decision to join Uganda's Anglicans
BY ALBERTA LINDSEY TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER
Feb 8, 2006
A second Northern Virginia congregation has voted to withdraw from the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia and to affiliate with the Diocese of Ruwenzori of the Anglican Church of Uganda.
The consecration of an openly gay bishop by the Episcopal Church USA in 2003 is a factor in the congregation's decision, said the Rev. Clancy Nixon, missioner of the Church of the Holy Spirit in Ashburn in Loudoun County.
The Holy Spirit congregation voted 88-0 Sunday to leave the Episcopal Church and the Virginia diocese, Nixon said in a phone interview yesterday. On Monday, he resigned as a working priest of the diocese and the Episcopal Church. In his letter of resignation, Nixon said he was not renouncing his "Holy Orders as Priest."
(Excerpt) Read more at timesdispatch.com ...
JMO, the majority of leaders in the Episcopalian heirarchy will not get the message.
My church packed up and left a while ago to leave for the an African Anglican diocese. Good to have company.
christchurchmidland.org
I get sad seeing our old church building. I'm not even sure it has services --- its website last lists September as an active date.
A brave man.
But then, many martys have certainly suffered worse consequences for their beliefs.
Our entire diocese quit the Episcopal Church; we're now a part of the American Anglican Communion.
I may have to run down to Ashburn and pay them a visit some Sunday.
To those here that have left:
1) You already know that the right thing is not always the easy thing.
2) You will find an amazing freedom to worship and serve now that you are no longer battling with ECUSA.
3) Jesus is always a better investment than Real Estate!
To those who haven't left:
1) How hot does the frying pan need to be?
You have a better bishop that we do.
Our (former) bishop was an Episcopalian first and a Christian second. Pretty well kicked us out.
Did Bishop Robinson have sex with his gay partner while he was still married to his wife?
I ask because I was just wondering if adultery is OK in the Episcopal Church now, too, or do I still have to go to the Unitarian church for that.
I haven't left because I don't know where to go. The Episcopal Church brought me to Christ. God's hand guided me to this Church. I don't agree with Robinson's ordination, but this Church is my spiritual home. My own parish does not preach homosexuality or have any homo clergy. What am I supposed to do?
Where are you located?
IMHO-Consider that what you permit, you promote. Even though your parish may be conservative, don't fall for the line of thought which says "Well, it is not happening here." The fact is that the elephant is already in your living room, even if the parish leadership doesn't recognize it.
Please don't think that I'm judging you, I'm not. Feel free to move this conversation to private mail if you'd like.
Northern Virgina is where the money is...
Re: adultery, apparently so. A few years back, my bishop (a senior bishop in the church) divorced his wife, annulled his own marriage (five children), re-married a divorced woman and honeymooned out of the country during Easter, the holiest time in the Church's calendar. So much for being the chief priest in the diocese. I left the Episcopal Church shortly thereafter.
I recall a meeting with a woman who was a member of the local Unitarian church. When I told her I was an Episcopalian, she exclaimed, "your beliefs are almost the same as mine". Nothing could have been further from the truth for me, but I also knew that her comments were in fact true for many, many Episcopalians. As I said above, I left that apostate body not long after her comments.
I recently left the ELCA because they became to liberal. I am now a Catholic. Could not be happier.
Each must evaluate in prayer what it means to stay firm for Christ.
Long ago T. S. Elliot facing his own recognition of the Church of Englands problems said, "The world is trying the experiment of attempting to form a civilized but non-Christian mentality. The experiment will fail; but we must be very patient in awaiting its collapse; meanwhile redeeming the time; so that the Faith may be preserved alive through the dark ages before us; to renew and rebuild civilization, and to save the world from suicide."
Many have repeated those words "redeeming the time" as a call for the patient steadfast struggle to battle modernity in its enlightenment shroud. It is honorable as it has been effective. You may be a true voice to your congregants.
V. Gene Robinson was two years divorced from his wife before he took up with his current lover. What he may have done before that I have no idea.
One for the list?
KC - that quote from T.S. Eliot made my hair stand on end. I need to find some books by him and read them. Totally awesome.
To see the options, take a look at the web page in my tagline, click on "NA Provinces" and you will find many Continuing churches with parish directories. If you'd more help, FReepmail me. That is, if/when you and/or your church decide to move; it is my opinion that it will only be a matter of time, unfortunately.
I though he got divorced because he decided he was a homosexual.
That's true. But that doesn't automatically mean that he was sleeping with his current BF then. The story is that he didn't even meet the guy for at least a year after the divorce.
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