Although the decision has been appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, Anglican leaders in Petaluma decided to settle rather than engage in a costly legal battle, said their lawyer, the Rev. Lu T. Nguyen.
“My clients felt as though it just wasn’t worth the long-term fight,” Nguyen said. “This is a church. It’s purpose is not material gain but spiritual matters.”
Petaluma Episcopalians appeared happy Wednesday to have a place of their own.
After a majority of the congregation voted to split from the Episcopal Church in December 2006, the remaining Episcopal members re-formed under the Rev. Norman Cram, and held services first in a parishioner’s living room and later at Elim Lutheran Church.
The congregation now has about 50 members.
“The congregation now has about 50 members.” Yet, they supposedly had 100 people in attendance. You have got to give them credit. They apparently bussed people in to make it look like it will be a successful church. It won’t. The national church will pour money in to keep up the pretense, but when the lawsuits are over, the church will be allowed to die.
Nobody was “bussed in.” The Episcopal group enjoys considerable support in the diocese and has received generous gifts from some of the wealthier parishes to allow it to continue. The diocese encouraged attendance, obviously.
One of the things I appreciate about Fr. Norm Cram is his sacrificial work as a non-stipendiary priest for the Episcopal congregation. Long term support for a full time priest with all the usual church overhead in this mainly 20 to 30 ASA (though membership is claimed at 50) will be problematic to say the least.
It is not realistic to expect long term continued support from other parishes, especially during this economic downturn. If wealthy TEC parishes had so much resources to support congregations that TEC received back then parishes like Christ Episcopal Church in Conn. wouldn’t have to close–like a number of TEC parishes throughout the U.S. The survival of any congregation (even if the property is paid in full) is largely dependent on the support of the local membership. Not always, but often, size does “roughly” correlate to financial stability of churches.
While I think there will be challenges for both the Anglican and Episcopal congregations in the months ahead, it will be particularly difficult for the smaller Episcopal congregation. As they seek to pay for a full time priest and maintain the overhead, the call for giving will likely be taxing on its membership. Anyone experienced with a church in dire economic needs and always calling for additional giving will know that after awhile, it becomes difficult to attend. I suspect this will be the situation for the Episcopal congregation in the months and years to come. I agree with robroy that once things settle and the fuller congregation photo ops aren’t there, the mission will not likely survive unless substantial growth is accomplished in the next few years.
Looks like a fairly old group. It will be interesting to revisit this church in a year to see how it is doing.
I seem to recall that the TEC group also regained a $450,000 Trust Fund. That should cover the costs of wine and wafers for quite a while. Statmann
I did notice that there is not a single child in that picture. I wonder how many kids are in the 200 who have left the building and the Episcopal church?