Bishop John Bauerschmidt of the Episcopal Diocese of Tennessee has been hoping that God would resolve a conflict between the diocese and St. Andrew’s Parish in Nashville.
But the dispute is now headed to court.
At issue is the future of St. Andrew’s Parish and the church’s property at 3700 Woodmont Blvd. in West Nashville.
The Rev. James Guill, rector of St. Andrew’s, says his congregation left the Episcopal Church and joined a breakaway Anglican diocese based in Quincy, Ill. They claim to have taken the deed to their property with them.
The bishop disagrees. He says that St. Andrew’s is still an Episcopal church. Guill and church members can vacate the building and join any group they want, said Bauerschmidt, as long as they leave the church keys by the door when they go.
A continuing scandal on display for all non-believers to witness; “My, how those Christians love one another.” From the outside looking in TEC has devolved into a sect wholly incapable of discerning faithfulness to Christ and, in the process, brings constant shame to the entire Body of Christ. The devil laughs and another TEC Bishop sues …
And to think there were people in the ELCA who though a relationship with TEC was something to pursue.
How many times have we sung in TEC : “Where true love and charity are found, Christ himself is there…”
How can Bauerschmidt hope that “God will resolve the conflict” when he is demanding an unconditional surrender of the property? He must assume God is his agent. This is the kind of TECian meadow muffin that is piled higher and deeper everyday – and continues to stimulate the retching of Christians everywhere.
[blockquote]This is the kind of TECian meadow muffin that is piled higher and deeper everyday [/blockquote]. One free pass to the Laffin’ Place to Dan Crawford.
RE NO. 1: Why is it not possible for Episcopalians to continue to love other Christians who leave the church without delivering church buildings to them on demand? I love my children, but it never occurred to me to give them my house when they left home. I would probably be even less likely to consider it if they demanded that I get out of it instead.
NoVa,
Well, for one thing I seriously doubt your children paid for your house. Now, if the good Bishop wants to buy out the congregation, compensate them for their faithfulness over the years, that would be a different story. And perhaps a much better metaphor than the false one you’ve suggested.
Alas, I go back to my previous almost rant, TES (The Episcopal Sect) has become a blight on the Body of Christ. Every time one of their Bishops publicly engages in this sort of lawsuit posturing, the unchurched, unChristians around us are given further evidence (from their perspective) why avoiding a local church is a good idea. Doesn’t matter the branding of the local church. In the eyes of the unChristians, they can’t tell the difference. TES’ suing Bishops are harming the Body everywhere, not just in their own little dying sect.
Yea, it annoys me to no end.
Is not Bauerschmidt a Communion Partners Bishop? Of all things wouldn’t it be wonderful for the CP Bishops to negotiate settlements instead of going to court….? Take the lead on reconciliation, or at least on honorable separation? But it would seem few are willing to stick their neck out and risk the swift hand of KJS.
For some time, St. Andrew’s Parish http://www.standrewsnashville.org has been pursuing a policy which amounts to just ignoring TEC without doing anything official. Rather like the Diocese of SC has just approved. However, they have not exactly kept a low profile. When +Bauerschmidt comes around, they pray for “Keith (Ackerman), our bishop,” and on at least two occasions an ACNA priest, considered to be “defrocked” by +Bauerschmidt, has conducted services there. My only surprise is that it has taken this long for a reaction. It will be interesting to see what comes out of this under Tennessee law. BTW, I see that “defrocked” priest every Sunday, and my prayers are with St. Andrew’s.
I think the real reason why Episcopal bishops ( as well as 815) keep suing for the return of property is that if they were to say, “Go in peace and keep your parish property.” that there would be a huge rush for the exits and most dioceses would collapse in a mater of a couple of years. In short, they know that the Episcopal Organization is now held together only by fear! A sorry state of affairs, indeed!!!
RE: # 5 (NoVA Scout) “RE NO. 1: Why is it not possible for Episcopalians to continue to love other Christians who leave the church without delivering church buildings to them on demand? I love my children, but it never occurred to me to give them my house when they left home. I would probably be even less likely to consider it if they demanded that I get out of it instead.”
Quite correct. You would be under no compulsion to give away your home that you had built/paid for and held the title.
Suppose, however, your children had built the house, paid for the house and held the title, and then because of some behaviour reprehensible to them, had asked you to leave ….what claim would you have on their home?
NoVa Scout doesn’t want to see what the principle is here. Perhaps a different analogy. The founding fathers of our country based us on democracy. Say we have a bunch of communists come in, get elected and then throw out all the laws and everything this country ever stood for and start taking over the land of those of us still remembering what the US is all about. NoVa Scout would just hand over the keys then, right?
Just to make it clear, the keys to YOUR house, NoVa Scout. After all, that’s what the new government wants. ALL of it.
I wonder if TEC will hold on to their “all parishes are held in trust for the Diocese and 815” when there comes a lawsuit (and there will be) over some scandal in a parish. As I understand the law, if you claim ownership of the property then you can be held liable for what happens on the property. I think this liability issue was raised when the Dennis Canon was voted on, but shouted down.
If I were an attorney (and I am not) I would positively drool over the possibility of getting into the deep pockets of 815 when one of their clergy steps over the line. In fact, given the “we are a hiearchical church” arguments made over the last few years by DBB add company it seems to be quite possible to “hoist them on their own petard”.
Sorry about the typos it was along morning and an even longer vestry meeting. DAB
[i] Sometimes the elves add/edit rather than edit/delete. [/i]
“Bauerschmidt is the latest Episcopal bishop to end up in court with former members of his flock.”
A lawsuit a day, keeps the lawyers in pay!
So let’s sue, sue, sue!
It’s evangelism the Episcopal way!
So let’s sue, sue, sue!
This confirms my suspicions of +Bauerschmidt’s true mettle raised by his tepid reactions to DES, depositions of +Schofield, +Duncan, +Iker, et al, +Lambeth, New Orleans, GC09, his disparaging comments about ACNA, and now this. His predecessor +Herlong also acted punitively toward another Nashville-area congregation that left TEC, All Saints in Smyrna, who left their building empty rather than fight the lawsuit they knew the diocese would file had they tried to keep their building.
Line up +Bauerschmidt and +Lawrence of DioSC to compare and,..oh, you can’t line them up. +Lawrence is head, shoulders, chest, waist, knees above this yes-man.
Makes my heart even more in sorrow for my former parish, which continues to shrink even more drastically since GC09, and even more full of joy to be received formally this morning into membership in Nashville 1st Church of the Nazarene. And no, I am not calling for others to leave. I stayed in TEC for years longer than I wanted to because the Lord had not yet released me from the sad duty of trying to light a fire in the mostly cold, wet wood of my home TEC mostly-orthodox, NIMBY congregation, with only a little success. Let each serve where the Lord calls, and stay tuned-in to the Holy Spirit moment-by-moment to act if the Lord moves the place of blessing when the ravens stop bringing food and the brook dries up.
Thanks for your telling story, Milton.
The First Church of the Nazarene will be blessed.
Br_er Rabbit, thank you for your kind words. !st Nazarene has been the living body of Christ to me and everyone there has drawn me into their fellowship and their family most wonderfully. I can hardly describe what it is like to worship every Sunday morning with 700-1,000 people (and most Sunday evenings with some 500 people) who seem nearly without exception to know the bodily risen Lord Jesus Christ and overflow with love for Him, just as He has led me to these past 12 years. If the Lord will use me to return even some of the blessings this church has showered on me, then my joy truly overflows!
Milton, it is a wonderful thing to find a people who love the Lord.
I had something of the same experience 13 years ago when the Lord told me to [I]]find a church[/i], which evidently did not include that one (TEC) of my previous 40 years. I tried to try to go to some church every day. The only one with services on Friday was Victory Outreach. When I walked into that church a half hour early, there were already 50-70 folk there who had come early to [I]pray for the service[/i].
These people were on fire for God, and received me warmly. I decided that I wanted a piece of whatever it was that they had, and checked myself into their men’s recovery home, even though I was not a druggie. But 4 years later the Lord sent me back to TEC, where I found St. James Newport Beach, and now I am an ordained Anglican Deacon.
It is a wonderful thing to fall into the loving arms of our loving God.
Recall that +Bauerschmidt was chosen out of a second slate of candidates after the liberal clergy in the diocese blocked the entire first slate.
Br_er, God bless you brother! The Lord seeks us out and moves us to seek Him out.
APB, and the liberal clergy (especially retired clergy) fought +Bauerschmidt’s election tooth-and-nail, too. It was the lay delegates who finally won the day, refusing to be cowed or worn down. On repeated ballots, “moves of the Holy Spirit” were orchestrated by delegates suddenly switching their votes divided between 3 or 4 candidates over to one liberal candidate at once. The first 2 elections saw Canon Neal Michell successfully blocked by the liberal stalemate. One wonders what might have been…
Milton: glad you have found a church home in Nashville but if you miss Anglican worship (and still want to hear orthodox preaching the same day), you are always welcome at St. George’s.
Milton: God bless and guide you.
marciainnashville, great to hear from you since our last “dialogue” a few months ago! St. George’s is indeed an oasis and a beacon, and with the combo of Anglican liturgy and Spruill+’s faithful (and in TEC these days, courageous) preaching may God indeed preserve all of you there strong through whatever storms you may have to weather. I may indeed drop by there sometime. If I do, I’ll be sure to try and look you up and introduce myself, and thanks for the gracious invite!
Lakeland Two – thank you for the prayers. He does indeed faithfully and lovingly bless and guide this prodigal come home every day!
Milton: I look forward to it!