The people of St. Luke’s Anglican Church have called their La Crescenta parish home for 85 years. Generations of families have grown up within its historic stone walls.
On Sunday, the Rev. Rob Holman will deliver his final sermon there, an epitaph to a bruising legal fight the congregation waged and lost to practice its conservative brand of Christian theology and hold on to the church.
On Monday, St. Luke’s leaders will hand over its keys to the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles.
The diocese sued to retain St. Luke’s property after the congregation voted overwhelmingly in 2006 to leave it and the national Episcopal Church over theological differences, including the consecration of a gay bishop in New Hampshire.
And the Israelites left Pharaoh’s Egypt in a ‘test of faith’ that led their descendants to the Promised Land.
It is worth remembering that Pharaoh was punished by plagues and the drowning of his pursuing minions in the Red Sea.
[blockquote]You joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property.[/blockquote]
So says the sign outside the church, a rendition of Hebrews 10:34.
This will be the topic of the last sermon before they leave. “Think back on those early days when you first learned about Christ. … Sometimes you were exposed to public ridicule. … When all you owned was taken from you, you accepted it with joy. You knew there were better things waiting for you that will last forever [NLT]”
I wonder if he will also delve into the previous passage: “For we know the one who said, ‘I will take revenge. I will pay them back.’ He also said, ‘The LORD will judge his own people.’ It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”
Parallel thought paths, Anglican First.
“The people of St. Luke’s Anglican Church have called their La Crescenta parish home for 85 years. Generations of families have grown up within its historic stone walls”.
How can the Diocese of Los Angeles spin that one for their cause to even appear just? Even the Times gets it….the Diocese showed a gross failure of leadership and the people look like their being thrown out; true victims of a Church gone asunder.
Good.
And, traditionally, in the United States, public sympathy and support usually favor those persons who are oppressed by those other persons with the power to oppress.
ECUSA and the diocesan leaders involved have postured over the years as the “inclusive” champions of the ‘oppressed,’ including GLBT persons.
However, these ‘champions’ have now ‘exposed themselves’ as merciless oppressors who are self-righteously trampling on the religious rights of the evicted congregation from their own parish church.
People seeking a house of worship as opposed to a geographic rallying point in order to support a secular ‘rights’ issue are probably going to avoid affiliation with this worship site, this diocese and ECUSA.
A nice parting gift to the diocese might be a few brooms. They’ll need to keep the cobwebs somehow under control with fewer bodies there. I think the term “Pyrrhic” applies to this victory. In the current market it might be easier than some people think to buy the place in a few months once the cost of maintenance catches up with the Owners.
Bishop Bruno represents all that is despicable in church leadership. Those who come back to the church will be implemented in the crime.
God is great…TEC is not.
Intercessor
[blockquote]Every item has been inventoried and cataloged.[/blockquote]
I feel LA love.
We have been blessed to know the Holmans since Rob was an enthusiastic seminarian seeking placement. His focus on the gospel was evident from the moment he arrived and his efforts resulted in maturity and growth and spiritual victory where ever his ministry was. He was never shy about attesting to the faith once delivered whether at convention or to colleagues. After speaking at one event, one listener opined they were listening to a future bishop (may God protect him from that!). He and his wife have been in our prayers and we will continue to hold them and their congregation up. God is doing something new and the Episcopal Corporation of America cannot perceive it.
PS If St Luke’s is in need to start anew, let us know; perhaps we can all contribute in some way…