Peter Lee's Letter to Truro Parishioners

On Sunday, December 10, I and the three other members of my familty who are members of Truro will vote to disaffiliate ourselves with ECUSA and the Diocese of Virginia. We will be affirming our unity in Christ. Sadly, ECUSA has not. And does Mr. Lee believe that we who will vote are 'weeds' or 'wheat'? Just wondering.

In a few days, your congregation will gather to discuss its future in the
Episcopal Church and in the Diocese of Virginia. I write you today with this
prayerful appeal that you affirm your ministry in the Episcopal Church and in the
Diocese of Virginia.

Since the Reformation, our Anglican tradition has included persons with
different theological emphases in one community of faith, affirming the same
creeds, participating in the same sacraments, honoring Scripture as the basis of
our faith, interpreted across the centuries through Reason and Tradition. The
Diocese of Virginia, in particular, has affirmed the Windsor Report, issued in
2004 by the Lambeth Commission, as a way forward for our worldwide
communion by actions of the Annual Council in 2005 (Resolution R22) and 2006
(Resolution Ri 7). In addition, the Diocese of Virginia, following the
recommendations of the Windsor Commission, continues to refrain from public
rites of blessing of same gender unions. Since 1607, Anglicans in Virginia have
been united in common worship and in common faith and I invite you to affirm
that commonality when you gather in your parish meeting. Are there differences
among us? Yes. And learning from one another in our differences, is, instead of a
threat to our mission, an opportunity to learn from each other about what mission
in the 2l century requires of us.

American Christianity has been punctuated over the years by frequent
divisions, with one group choosing to separate because they believed the
separated group might be more pure than their former identity. That has not been
characteristic of the way we Anglicans have dealt with differences.

I encourage you when you vote, to vote for the unity and mission of the
church, therefore remaining one with your diocese, and reject the tempting calls to
division and the false promises of a pure church. Until the Day of Judgement, the
wheat and the weeds will grow together as Jesus promised in the Gospel.
(Matthew 13: 24-30)

Peter James Lee

+ Strengthen Existing Churches + Reach Out to Neighbors in Need + Expand Youth Ministries + Enhance Conference Centers + Build New Churches

110 West Franklin Street Richmond, Virginia 23220-5095
(800) DIOCESE (804) 643 8451 Facsimile (804) 644 6928
www.thediocese.net

The launguage of this letter is very troubling for several reasons. First, it is not clear-headed at all. I would expect someone elevated to the bishopric in a church to be much more articulate than this letter demonstrates. The grammar is poor in a couple of spots, and the logical formulation fails to communicate even a clear message, whether true or false, ordinary or controversial.

Second, the Bishop sets up a strawman when he implies that any division within a church denomination is based on the premise that one group views itself as more pure than another. In fact, I would assert that the bishop is actually arguing from the side that believes itself to be the more pure. After all, he is the one who asserts that the superior approach is that of the Episcopal Church.

Thus, I would assert another view that suggests the need for division arises from the substance of the Church's currently professed faith. If the Church "authorities" no longer espouse the essential teachings of the Church, deny the foundational tenets of the denomination and its traditions, and declare these deviations to be of no consequence to the teachings from which it has deviated, then it has simply become irrational, not to mention unfaithful and un-Episcopal. So, the division arises because of the loss of substance and rational behavior by the established church authorities, not due to changes initiated by those who decide to remain steadfast in their beliefs, the essential beliefs of the denomination.

I know that I wear only filthy rags and lack any notion of purity in my thoughts, words, or deeds. It is only by the Blood of Christ that I am made clean in the sight of God. The Word is Pure, but I am not. Division over purity? No, hardly. Division due to denial of what is Pure and Divine? Of course, since there is only One Way. To deny this is to cause the division, and that is what the chirch authorities have done. They simply do not want this to be known (even to themselves I suspect).

Finally, the fact that the Bishop's letter contains so many weaknesses and no strong statement of purpose or faith indicates that there is something less than wholesome or truthful or sincere in the Bishop's intent. Clearly, the letter attempts to "spin", at best, and dissemble at worst. Such behavior, especially in the written word has no place in a Christian denomination. The letter reveals the character, or lack thereof, in the leadership of the diocese. While I am called to forgive, and I will, I am not called to follow error.

The Bishop is in error, serious error, and refuses to admit to this. That is most unfortunate for him and his flock. The consequences can only be serious and profound given the fundamental nature of the error.

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