from the Anglican Watchman of Newark:
Christ Church, East Orange seems to be OK–at least for now. But just a few miles away lie the corpses of what, just a year or two ago, were three integrated, black majority parishes, who favored traditional worship.
The first to go was St. Mark’s in West Orange. One of the oldest parishes in the diocese, St. Mark’s had a large building badly in need of repair, but with an endowment that would cover the expenses. Because they were only allowed to draw on the income, the parish went to court in order to change the terms. In the meantime, the diocese loaned the parish money for repairs, but at some point, it tired of the arrangement, closed the parish, sold the building (built 1827) –and of course, pocketed the remaining endowment.
Less than two years later, the Diocese closed two mostly black High Church parishes. All Saints was in Orange, one mile east of St. Mark’s, while Trinity Montclair was just over 3 miles to the west. All Saints was shut down in October 2006; Trinity followed in February 2007. The diocese could, logically, have merged these two similar parishes. Had it thought ahead (and had that endowment not been so tempting!) three parishes could have been merged. The sanctuary at St. Mark’s was more than big enough, and the proceeds from selling the other buildings would have paid for a lot of repairs.
“Less than two years later, the Diocese closed two mostly black High Church parishes.”
My, my, how “inclusive.”
Could there have been ‘orthodox’ parishoners in those black churches?
This does not surprise me at all. Black, Hispanic and Asian ethnic minorities are increasingly wandering off the Marxist reservation, and for some time now the Left has been quietly tiptoeing away from the cause of ethnic pride. The Left is slowly beginning to realize that they have let a particularly potent jinni out of the bottle: the multiculturalism they championed for so long is actually the undoing of the atheistic secular state, and so they must scramble to find a conveniently non-sectarian Aggrieved Minority to advance their agenda.
This posting is like “Lord of the Flies” meets the Levy Pants factory from “A Confederacy of Dunces.” The kids are in charge and, through comical mismanagement, are driving the place to ruin.
We know that everything we read on the internet is true. Really.
I found this interesting reading. plainparson, I’m curious–do you have any other sources that offer an alternative view?
sj engelhardt
Similar modus operandi to that of the revisionists in the Diocese of Long Island, which I saw first hand. Has the ring of truth.
Is there any indication that the worshipers at the three closed parishes were getting, well, “uppity?”
Live by Agendas. Die by Agendas. The decline and fall of TEC.
Good Episcopalians, Weep with me for my beloved church which sold its soul for a few acclamations from the secular world.
I posted this comment over at SF.
I can’t possibly say how proud I am of whoever Blakeney is for his work.
Every single revisionist diocese in ECUSA needs a Blakeney. The fact that it is a person in the Diocese of Newark who is making this effort is deeply humbling to me. For whatever reason, Blakeney hasn’t left—and it may be that God wanted him to chronicle and archive the horror of Newark, a diocese that is a byword now even in ECUSA.
Like I keep saying—reasserters are everywhere in ECUSA and we need to work. When I think of people like me and others in moderate to conservative diocese who are “too demoralized to act or work†yet oddly, unwilling to leave, but instead simply want to wait for others to work or perhaps simply have a lie down and drink stiff scotches, I really have to say that there are no excuses for us.
I am simply amazed that anyone would have the strength of character, the willpower, the discipline, the courage, and the honor to create something like this in the diocese of Newark.
I really don’t have words to express my admiration and respect.
Amen Sarah. It’s very encouraging to be reminded there is a faithful remnant. “Even in Newark.”
Hallelujah. May the Lord use this new blog to encourage and strengthen those who are standing firm for Him in Newark, and may He help them shine the light on what’s happening there in such a way as to be a useful warning to parishes and dioceses throughout ECUSA who soon may be facing the same thing.
#4, what #5 said.
Any other info to offer?
So much for the canard that gay rights is a sequel for racial equality and diversity, at least on an empirical basis. I’m sure the theoretical argument for that position will be a talking points for various useful idiots of 815 for some time.
Even in the “Diocese of Darkness” there is a ray of hope!
Ah, the cozy warmth of ECUSA reappraisers’ tolerance and inclusion.
“You are therefore to be hugged now, only that you may be the better squeezed at another time” —George Saville, Marquess of Halifax, 1687