Prominent Episcopal Congregation Splitting Up

  • Thread starter Thread starter AnglicanRite
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
A

AnglicanRite

Guest
One of the oldest and most prominent Episcopal churches in Northern Florida has split from the Episcopal Church USA and is now forming a new Anglican parish in Tallahassee:

virtueonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=3055

The pastor in question, Fr. Eric Dudley, is a good friend of mine and I know how hard this was for him to do. But with over half of the congregation going with him, as well as both his assistant pastors and most of his staff, I think he will do well!

Sigh. If only Eric and his congregation would go Anglican Use! That would be wonderful.
 
Fascinating. I work as a mentor for a two-week summer program at Duke (Duke Youth Academy for Christian Formation), and each year we have several bright, enthusiastic young people from St. John’s. I feel for what they must be going through. Let’s all keep them in our prayers.

Whatever you think about the rights and wrongs of it, church splits are always horribly painful.

Edwin
 
With apologies, I must correct myself for the wording of the original post. It appears that I wrote something in the impression that the entire church is leaving the ECUSA, but that is not quite right. The parish of St. John Episcopal still exists, and no doubt Bishop Howard will get a new priest (or priestess) in there sometime soon. But with over half of the congregation and almost all of the leadership going to the new St. Peter Anglican, I can only wonder how St. John Episcopal is going be able to go on.

As well, from what I’ve read, many other parishes are about to make the same move, most waiting for what the ECUSA is going to do at their June 2006 General Convention. The intention is clear, though: if the ECUSA doesn’t do some serious backpedaling and repentance, then these parishes are gone.
 
It is inevitable that Protestant ecclesial organizations will continue to splinter and fragment into ever increasing numbers of divided sects. 😦 Protestantism began by splintering and division, and the process cannot be stopped until the Protestants repent of their rebellion come back into full communion with the ONE, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.

The wrath of God is the consequences we suffer for doing things our own way, when our way is not God’s way. The scandalous division and misery caused by thousands upon thousands of contentious Protestant sects is a manifestation of the wrath of God.
 
And the purpose of your post is . . .

We all know what you believe. You accomplish nothing by reciting it. People are in pain, and all you can do is spout ideology. Maybe you should worry about the wrath of God yourself.

Most likely everything you say is true. But if you say it without a broken heart, you have no business saying it at all.

Edwin
 
40.png
Contarini:
And the purpose of your post is . . .

We all know what you believe. You accomplish nothing by reciting it. People are in pain, and all you can do is spout ideology. Maybe you should worry about the wrath of God yourself.

Most likely everything you say is true. But if you say it without a broken heart, you have no business saying it at all.

Edwin
Click to expand...
I agree. There is a time and a place for everything. Rubbing people’s noses in their troubles is hardly helpful at this time, IMHO.

I too wish, though, that our Episcopalian brethren would once again be embraced within the fold of the Catholic Church. Not because I think them rebellious, but because we could use their dedication to tradition and love of beautiful liturgy, just to mention a couple of their assets. I’ve got the Anglican Use “The Book of Divine Worship” which makes me wish there were an Anglican Use parish in my area. I’d be there in a shot!
 
40.png
Contarini:
…if you say it without a broken heart, you have no business saying it at all

Edwin
Click to expand...
You don’t know what is in my heart!

I do feel compassion for the Protestants who, through no fault of their own, have been separated from the true Church. That is why I pray for Protestantism to disappear from the face of the earth - so that all may be one, just as Jesus desires.The restoration of unity among all Christians is one of the principal concerns of the Second Vatican Council. Christ the Lord founded one Church and one Church only. However, many Christian communions present themselves to men as the true inheritors of Jesus Christ; all indeed profess to be followers of the Lord but differ in mind and go their different ways, as if Christ Himself were divided. Such division openly contradicts the will of Christ, scandalizes the world, and damages the holy cause of preaching the Gospel to every creature.

But the Lord of Ages wisely and patiently follows out the plan of grace on our behalf, sinners that we are. In recent times more than ever before, He has been rousing divided Christians to remorse over their divisions and to a longing for unity. Everywhere large numbers have felt the impulse of this grace, and among our separated brethren also there increases from day to day the movement, fostered by the grace of the Holy Spirit, for the restoration of unity among all Christians.

Decree On Ecumenism - Unitatis RedintegratioIt is good that God allows these schismatic Protestant ecclesial organizations collapse and disintegrate, even though that is painful for those belonging to these communities. It is good, because it is not God’s will that these Protestant communities should even exist, and unless God allows them to disintegrate, the members of these Protestant sects would become complacent with the status quo. Good can come out of this suffering, because the suffering can purify the people of God of a division that scandalizes the world and damages the spreading of the Gospel.
 
Matt,

I don’t know what is in your heart. No one can on the Internet. That’s why you need to be more careful in how you express yourself. I speak from hard experience–I’ve often come across as arrogant or snobbish when I had no such intention.

In this particular case, as I said, I happen to know some very bright, pious, sensitive young people who go to this church. I can imagine what they are feeling right now. This is the only church they have ever known. They didn’t choose it; any “rebellion” is not their fault. It’s their spiritual home, and it’s collapsing around them. So I don’t take kindly to people pontificating needlessly in those circumstances.

You can thunder your anathemas at me if you like. I chose to become Episcopalian rather than Catholic. . . But when you hear a story of people suffering, keep your condemnations for a more opportune time. That’s both wise and charitable, and it does no disservice to the Truth you profess to love so much.

Edwin
 
40.png
Contarini:
I chose to become Episcopalian rather than Catholic.
Click to expand...
Why did you make that choice? The truth matters, and God expects hold to the truth even if it costs our life.

If St. Thomas More was sitting across from you right now, how would you convince him that Anglicanism is not a corruption, and that King Henry VIII is the rightful head of the Church of England?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top