« A Billion Little Pieces | Main | A clerk's view of Alito »
January 09, 2006
Alien is as Alien Does
The turmoil in the Anglican Communion and the ECUSA interest us a great deal because it's interesting in and of itself, but also because of what it tells us about the road of "God is doing a new thing." Today Christopher Johnson reports that eight - count them eight - more parishes in Northeast Florida might be cutting ties with ECUSA, adding to the six that did so in 2005.
Fourteen in one diocese. While the secular media dithers about how the Roman Catholic Church's stances on various issues (mostly sexual) is so "alienating"...we have fourteen parishes in a single diocese leaving the liberal ECUSA fold for a more conservative alignment with the Worlwide Anglican Communion...wow. Talk about alienating.
(Mary Jane, I know you've helped out musically at St. Michael's in Gainesville, by which I used to drive several times a day...any perspective? And does anyone know if All Saints' in Lakeland, while not being in "northeast" Florida - is one of the parishes in question?)
For more, and interesting discussion, see TitusOneNine
Posted by Amy Welborn | Permalink
TrackBack
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d83451be0d69e200d83451fc8d69e2
Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Alien is as Alien Does:
Comments
Hi, Amy! I actually worked for Church of the Mediator in Micanopy (south of Gainesville). That particular church was determined to keep its head in the sand on the topic. While some more conservative members bailed out, most seemed to think that it just didn't matter and that all this "stuff with Gene Robinson" had nothing to do with their little church. St. Michael's was determinedly Low Church and evangelical in its approach and its move out of the Diocese was a surprise to no one.
Gainesville also has two other "Anglican continuum" churches. There's the very High Church All Saints (meets in a hall) and St. Andrew's which is very Low Church. These are both related to groups that broke off, I believe, over the ordination of women and the revision of the 1928 BCP. Since I spent part of my life in Anglican circles and have a raft of Piskies in the family, I still follow all this even though I'm happily working for a Catholic Church at last.
It is my theory that eventually all the Episcopalians who actually believe in something will end up somewhere else - Catholic, Orthodox, Evangelical. What ECUSA will be is the Unitarian Church with good music.
Posted by: Mary Jane at Jan 9, 2006 2:35:48 PM
I live just over a mile away from St.Andrew's. Nothing has been in the local papers about this at all!
Posted by: carrie ryckman at Jan 9, 2006 2:59:56 PM
Please keep the good folks up in the Diocese of Florida in your prayers. God is using this crisis to forge better followers in many cases. At least one Clergyman has entered into communion with Rome (and what a great addition to the Catholic family he is!) and I'm sure a number of laity have made the swim as well.
Posted by: Christopher at Jan 9, 2006 3:00:44 PM
from www.virtueonline.org:
THE BEAT GOES ON. In the DIOCESE OF FLORIDA it was the beginning of the Great Exodus for a number of parishes and for thousands of parishioners. January 1 was the deadline for the exit of orthodox parishes in that diocese. One can only imagine what Bishop Samuel Johnson Howard must be thinking. Was Robinson's consecration really worth all this?
"We have all declared ourselves Anglican Churches as of Sunday, January 1, 2006 and are operating under new 501c3s but have not 'exited,' because we believe it is more accurate and helpful to say we are realigning," wrote a cardinal rector from that diocese.
"St. Michael's in Gainesville is starting as Servants of Christ this coming Sunday, worshipping at a Vineyard congregation there. Calvary already left. St. Luke's Community of Life is now a mission partner congregation with St. Peter's in Tallahassee, under Uganda. Grace, Redeemer, and All Souls are still in negotiations with the diocese concerning oversight, clergy status and property," the cardinal rector wrote to VirtueOnline.
Posted by: Lori at Jan 9, 2006 3:46:53 PM
What happens to the property interests me. Does the old congregation get it or do they have to abandon it?
Posted by: Caroline at Jan 9, 2006 5:13:01 PM
Caroline,
That depends on state law and how the parish structured its relationship with the diocese and the national church. Some parishes have managed to keep their property after they left, but in most cases they were forced to leave their property behind. It's an extremely complicated problem.
Posted by: Patrick Rothwell at Jan 9, 2006 5:20:06 PM
Hardly a surprise that the secular media has other interests in its heart than the well being of the Church.
Posted by: Delance at Jan 9, 2006 5:36:45 PM
As a revert to the faith of Catholicism who has been a modernist, then an evangelical, and finally home in Rome, I find this situation very sad indeed.
Yet, I also believe that there is a lesson for catholicism in America. These groups remind us that Truth matters and that unity should not come at any cost. The bishops have sought to hold the Catholic community together when there are truly opposite worldviews that can not be reconciled. We try and try to avoid conflict and division, but it does not work because Truth is sacrificed. So instead we get "catholic-lite". Christ wanted unity but He also said his message would divide. It is time for Rome to realize that the defacto schism that exists in the west needs openly declared. Then, we can know that when we go to Mass, Catholic Universities, Catholic Retreat Centers we are actually getting the Catholic Faith.
Blessed are those who seek the Truth and Righteousness!
Brendan
Posted by: brendan at Jan 9, 2006 6:26:21 PM
If there really is a Catholic de facto schism and there well may be one, and if it ever gets openly declared, will we ever have one big property dispute!
Posted by: Caroline at Jan 9, 2006 9:20:44 PM
Amy, I can report that All Saints' in Lakeland, Florida, has NOT departed ECUSA. We are blessed to have two soundly orthodox priests leading us, and we are blessed to be in the Central Florida Diocese, with a soundly orthodox bishop, John W. Howe. A significant number of leaders throughout the diocese, at various levels, are guiding us to strengthen our commitments to and remain a part of the historic Christian faith. What will happen in the days ahead, and where we all end up -- well, there's a prayer request for you!
Posted by: Anonymous Church Mouse at Jan 10, 2006 12:50:37 PM
Ah, so Central Florida is a different diocese - that clears things up! Thanks!
Posted by: amywelborn at Jan 12, 2006 1:35:45 AM
Amy,
Thanks for the link!
Carrie,
As far as I know, there was no local press. Prior to the break, we were respecting Bishop +Gibbs' request to keep our dispute out of the media -- and afterwards, we were too busy trying to put the service together to worry about press coverage.
peace,
Posted by: Zach Frey at Jan 12, 2006 1:16:54 PM
