Members and clergy of various local Episcopal and Anglican congregations say they are doing just fine, some of them boasting church growth in numbers of congregants, quality of fellowship and worship, or both, despite ongoing litigation over church property to which both the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Diocese of San Joaquin lay claim.
The rector of All Saints Anglican Church, the Rev. John Riebe, said pending litigation does not worry him or his flock of 140 who attend two Sunday services. “The church is the people. It’s not the building,” he said. “We honestly believe that this is the Lord’s property and we are stewards of the Lord’s property. If we’re asked to give it up to find other property to work with, then that’s what we’ll do.”
He said only about five people left All Saints when “the separation” took place in December of 2008. “We have continued to see slow but steady growth. We have not had any decline as a result” of the split, he said.
“It’s a very thriving, energetic, Episcopal parish,” Grace Congregation member Mary Webb said about her church during the social hour following a recent Lenten service attended by about 65 worshippers. “We are very much alive and well. There are legal battles over property, but we move on.”
This is a good article that is:
1-Balanced and fair
2-I think truly represents the spiritual hearts of the Anglican Diocese
3-Not another bombastic Jerry Lamb propaganda piece by the Fresno Bee and the Modesto Bee (same company) that refers to homophobes and “rebel Diocese” as their focus.
Thank you for sharing Dr. Harmon.
Intercessor
Interesting read ….I notice that the Anglican Church priests when speaking spoke of [blockquote]”We have to go forward with what God is calling us to do,†Estes said. “We can’t live in fear that we’re going to lose everything,â€[/blockquote] and then [blockquote]”our relationship with God has never been stronger,†he said. For now, his church feels a sense of peace and “of no longer being pressed upon to compromise,†he said.”[/blockquote] and then [blockquote]”The church is the people. It’s not the building,†he said. “We honestly believe that this is the Lord’s property and we are stewards of the Lord’s property. If we’re asked to give it up to find other property to work with, then that’s what we’ll do.â€[/blockquote] It was all about God, relationship with Him. Peace in the Lord, know whose property it really is God’s, what God is calling them to do…etc…
And then the “Remain Episcopal’s only had this to say, [blockquote]We are very much alive and well. There are legal battles over property, but we move on.â€[/blockquote] Litigation and property nothing about God and this [blockquote]”other churches of various Christian denominations began campaigning in support of Proposition 8, which passed in November of 2008, taking away the right for persons of the same sex to marry in California. “I didn’t feel comfortable there any longer,…”[/blockquote] coupled with this is really head shaking when one says [blockquote]“I wasn’t aware of an all-inclusive, all-are-welcome-at-Christ’s-table church in Bakersfield until then,†he said.[/blockquote] I know these Anglican churches, their priests and their congregants and I can tell you this for sure …never ever would any one of them not allow these people to come to the alter…they would be welcomed into the church. Would these people hear the Gospel and how we all must repent and be transformed from our sinful living and give ourselves completely to God surrender all to Him? Yes! But that is exactly what they do not want to hear, which is why they do not feel all cozy and comfy and then begin to point fingers at those who believe in the transformation of Christ’s Sacrifice on the Cross. Amazing! Not one word of God, Jesus Christ, relationship with God, Peace in the Lord….God’s call …nothing!
Quite contrasting and telling about two different set of ideals and religions!
But Rev. Hill, there is more to it.We are not called to stay the way we are. “Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit’.”
3, as you point out God does not leave people where they are and God does not ignore disobedinece. One need only read the OT to find that out. The story of Eli comes to mind. Or the judgment that God levied on the Canaanites.
To say that God is please with us the way we are is a grievous error.
All true…….every bit of it!
It’s too bad the newspaper article did not describe the existence of the second and (even) newer Bakersfield TEC congregation as a split from the 2 year old Grace congregation. The second has even been so arrogant as to label themselves as “Bakersfield Episcopal Church” as if Grace had never existed, or that there was never any other Episcopal congregation in Bakersfield..
#6. tule spouse,
Why don’t they number themselves like the Baptists. For example, “First Episcopal Church of Bakersfield”.
Fr. Dale,
Who wants to be “The Second..”?
Unless that is a badge of honor in terms of church multiplication growth — but then we might not be talking about Episcopal churches any more.
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