Such is the fatigue over the Anglican-Episcopal splintering that two weekends ago, when the Episcopal diocese of Los Angeles consecrated the denomination’s second partnered gay bishop, the event didn’t make a blip on many evangelical news websites. Also largely unnoticed was the previous week’s press release from St. James Anglican Church in Newport Beach, California, stating that it would appeal the latest California Supreme Court ruling in its property dispute with the Episcopal Church. Christianity Today reported on St. James’s court case as recently as January, but for embattled congregations, months can feel like years.
St. James broke ties with the Episcopal Church and briefly joined the Anglican Diocese of Luwero, Uganda, in 2004 before becoming a member of the Anglican Church of North America last year. The court case is set to determine who gets its building and other assets.
No real news here about St. James in Newport Beach, CA. But what impresses me is the resilience of this woman, who hasn’t resigned herself to staying out of a fight even when she’s grieving deeply.
If you follow the embedded link you’ll come to a deeply moving article in which the author describes her struggles to understand and come to grips with the suicide of her son last year (April, 2009), when he was only 23. It’s a three-page CT story, and it’s very powerfully written.
Given how utterly devastating the suicide of a family member always is, but especially the suicide of your own child, that Christine Scheller shows such determination to actively oppose the betrayal of the gospel by leaders in TEC without succumbing to passivity or weariness is pretty amazing and inspiring. Bravo!
David Handy+
Christine is the real thing when it comes to faith. Also when it comes to integrity and candor. She and her husband are much missed at St. James. As a defendant in the St. James legal battle I very much appreciate whenever any one calls attention to our stand in the way she has. Given the bile of some of the comments to her Christianity Today blog, I take my hat off to her for speaking out. Christine, may God bless and keep you through the storm.
Thank you for the kind words Father Richard. It was so good to see you and Martha. Much love and many blessings to you~
Thank you too, Mr. Handy. I saw Father Richard’s name and skipped right over your comment. It’s been an awful few years for our family, and St. James loved us well through it, even as many others were going through deep trials. I believe 3 or 4 of us in the congregation buried children within a matter of months. Before any of that, there was this. The source of the burn out I referenced in this blog post, and the reason we were originally in California:
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/march/7.53.html