The Episcopal Diocese of Nebraska is suing the rector and lay leaders of a breakaway parish, St. Barnabas. Diocesan officials want the Rev. Robert Scheiblhofer and company to leave the historic church at 129 N. 40th St. and the rectory next door, now that the parish has rejected the authority of the Episcopal Church. The diocese contends it is the rightful owner of the property under church rules and state law.
Scheiblhofer and other parish leaders say they aren’t going anywhere. They contend that the property has always belonged to the parish, that it still does and that the diocese has no claim to it.
The diocese has asked the Douglas County District Court to resolve the dispute. An attorney for Scheiblhofer and St. Barnabas’ vestry, or governing body, is seeking to have the suit thrown out. The first hearing in the case is set for Wednesday.
What I found most telling about this article was actually the photograph taken, so the caption says, near the end of Sunday mass. There appears to be way more people in the altar party than sitting in any of the pews.
What did you find telling – are you thinking a small dying parish? Sorry to disappoint you, but the Rector explained the lack of a teeming multitude for the photo at :
http://www.standfirminfaith.com/index.php/site/article/19703/
where he wrote:
“Being so far down, this may never get read. But let me respond quickly to a couple of points.
1. St. Barnabas was left alone under Bishop Krotz – and also under Bp. Burnett. While Bp. Burnett and I are FAR apart on theological issues we have a deep personal respect for each other’s convictions. We both hoped for an amicable resolution of this situation. My personal belief is that those hopes were thwarted by mandates from 815.
2. The very first thing the parish did was to offer some sort of settlement. This was rejected out of hand by the diocese. They seem to fear that settling with us might set a precedent for other parishes in the diocese. I am not aware of any other parishes planning to disaffiliate. Perhaps they know something I don’t.
3. The parish is doing much better than the picture shows. There was an attendance that morning of over sixty. Since this was the morning of the Epiphany Party, I think many left during the final hymn to make preparations in the undercroft. Typical Sunday attendance is around fifty-five for the English Mass, fifteen or so for the Spanish Mass.
4. The parish is located in a part of town that is experiencing a revival. Property values may rise due to an influx of new building and development. Since the parish is located but a few blocks from Trinity Cathedral, it seems difficult to believe the diocese’s claim that the parish is “vital to the mission of the diocese†and that they need “a midtown presence.â€
5. The people of the parish are open to God’s will in this process. We are not slaves to the building but believe that we must first make an effort to honor the wishes of many people who over the nearly 140 years of the parish’s existence gave – literally of blood, sweat and tears – to dedicate this building to the honor and glory of Almighty God. If God wills that we begin again somewhere else, we are ready to say, “Here am I Lord, send me.â€
Fr. Robert Scheiblhofer, Rector”