Things are calmer these days in the Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida.
Following the 2003 election of openly gay priest Gene Robinson as bishop of New Hampshire, the largely conservative diocese was in turmoil, contemplating whether to join other dioceses in leaving the Episcopal Church to create a new, traditionalist Anglican church in America.
Under the leadership of Bishop John Howe, the diocese decided not to split from the Episcopal Church, as at least two other dioceses have done, and those in the Central Florida diocese who were advocating for the split mostly have gone. Both clergy and laypersons say the diocese is healthy and moving forward
The diocese will hold its annual convention Saturday at The Lakeland Center, and in an interview earlier this week, Howe predicted the meeting would be calm.
Please note: A list of resolutions to come before the Convention is here.
I think that this news item is on to something. Central Florida did have a bumpy ride during 2002 through 2008 with Members declining by 16 percent, ASA by 14 percent and Plate & Pledge by 15 percent in real (adjusted for inflation) dollars. But since TEC in GC 2009 made homosexual clergy and same-sex unions de jure as well as de facto, there has been hardly any large size exits from TEC. Perhaps, the PB was right when she stated that the worst is behind us (the TEC). The battle may well be up to the ACNA alone. The ACNA has 43 parishes in Florida aat this time. How many are in Central Florida, I do not know. TEC may well be back to the slow drip by drip loss scenario. Statmann
How peaceful things can be when all agree to abandon principle and the sacred teachings of Christ handed down faithfully through the ages to the present. When that little pesky thing is out of the way, and there is nothing left to fight for, all can be peaceful indeed, as peaceful as the grave.
Yes — those heretics in Central Florida have clearly abandoned “the sacred teachings of Christ” by not leaving TEC.
; > )
Heh.