The only Episcopal congregation in Lake County to leave the national denomination over the issue of homosexuality and other doctrines has found a new home and ally in its quest to begin worshipping anew — a tiny Pentecostal congregation.
The Rev. Woodleigh Volland and an overwhelming majority of his congregation at St. Edward’s Episcopal Church departed the national Episcopal Church in late October but remained with the 77-million-member worldwide Anglican community.
The dissidents regrouped and formed a new church, Epiphany Celebration Anglican Church, but quickly found themselves with nowhere to worship or hold services.
“We had to move nearly the entire congregation and didn’t have anywhere to go,” said Volland, an ordained minister since 1990 and pastor at St. Edward’s for six years.
Four of the five staff members and 10 of 12 vestry members opted to leave along with 130 of the roughly 170 regular church worshippers, Volland said.
“We stepped out in faith and started completely over,” he said. “It was an extraordinarily difficult decision.”
This is delightful. [url=http://www.vulcanhammer.org/?p=469]My extended commentary is here.[/url]
Good Luck, Woody.
kind of the reverse of Carlton Pearson, who was worshiping in an Episcopal church
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlton_Pearson