The Episcopalians and Anglicans in Heathsville will have to wait awhile longer to know for certain who has the right to St. Stephen’s Church in that town. Last year, the circuit court of Fairfax held that the Anglicans had the right to the church as did the Anglicans in nine other congregations that have split from the Episcopal Church. Friday, the Supreme Court of Virginia announced that it will hear the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia’s and The Episcopal Church of the United State’s appeals of the Fairfax rulings.
I know some of the good folks who are part of St. Stephen’s Anglican in Heathsville, VA. They were especially courageous in taking the stand they did, when their congregation is a rural one, unlike the other VA churches who left TEC to join CANA in late 2006 or early 2007. The historic church has a graveyard attached, and the roots of the local attachment to that old building go deep, as is so often the case with such old, rural churches.
But my friends who worship there would gladly walk away, if necessary, to stay faithful to the gospel and to Jesus Christ. And they have an admirable rector, Jeffrey Cerar+. May the Lord uphold them during this time of uncertainty and stress.
David Handy+
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