The sign outside St. Francis Anglican Church reads “think FORGIVE act.” Action and forgiveness were the themes of the day, as the parishioners gathered Sunday for one last time at their church on Main Street before walking several blocks away to begin a new church in rented facilities.
The congregation opened its closing service with “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee,” which includes the words, “Thou art giving and forgiving … teach us how to love each other.”
It was especially poignant because the St. Francis facility has been in a tug-of-war since 2007, when 40 of the 47 parishes in the San Joaquin Diocese voted to leave the national Episcopal church over theological differences. The departing parishes, including St. Francis, and the diocese were sued by the Episcopal church in 2008 and 2009 in a bid to regain those properties.
While leaving this beautiful building is sad indeed, the people of Grace Anglican Church will continue to grow and prosper in the Lord’s service, knowing that the Church is not buildings, but [i]people.[/i] This was a painful decision for our bishop, and I know he didn’t want to have to do it, but he did the right thing.
TEC = REIT
The Lord asked Abraham to give up his son. He is only asking some of us to give up property. While it is right to resist where practical, the most important thing is to be faithful. I would rather be obedient and out of money on the last day than flush with property but defiant.
In the Faith,
NW Bob
Well, I guess one could say that TEC will be “flush with property and defiant,” but with empty churches.