The two ministers were foes before they ever met, partisans in a war they did not start, but partisans nonetheless.
For four years, they did not speak.
But in the spring of 2011, the Rev. Tory Baucum drove 100 miles south to Richmond to introduce himself to the Rev. Shannon Johnston. And now the friendship that resulted, nurtured over Guinness in the bar of Richmond’s storied Jefferson Hotel, at dinner with their wives and during many difficult conversations, is being hailed as one of the most unexpected and intriguing developments in a bitter feud that has split the Episcopal Church in the decade since the denomination elected an openly gay bishop.
Mr. Johnston is the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia ”” the most populous Episcopal diocese in the United States ”” and a supporter of same-sex marriage who has blessed same-sex couples. Mr. Baucum is the rector of an unusually vibrant parish, Truro Church in Fairfax, which left the Episcopal Church over the election of… [a same-sex partnered bishop], the final straw in a long-running dispute over theological orthodoxy.
In Washington, they would say that Bacun+ is “growing” in office.
I had several questions after reading this piece. Over at Get Religion, Terry Mattingly asks many of them: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/getreligion/2014/04/a-nice-but-at-times-confusing-story-on-virginia-anglican-wars/
I think the relationship between these two will continue as long as the agreement to use the property does (and what does it say about Dio Va’s finances that they don’t want it for their own purposes?). I think in the long term it would be better for them to find a new place to worship (or +Johnston agrees to sell it) then you have more clarity.
I am ten minutes from Truro, although I attend Christ the Redeemer, which was originally a mission of Truro. I noticed that they redid the lease to last until after the next election of a Presiding Bishop. +Johnston can’t settle as long as Schori is in charge, but it would be beneficial for Truro to be able to stay where it is, and +Johnston has no congregation for the building. He will want to sell it, and they will want to buy it.
I went to Truro during Holy Week for a clergy gathering of my ACNA diocese (Mid-Atlantic, under +John Guernsey). The parish is actively seeking to find a new home, but it’s really difficult when there is no virgin land in Fairfax County and moving anywhere is super-expensive. But Truro will eventually find a new home. The agreement just buys them a little more time.
Thanks, Jeff, for the link. Yes, there are lots of aspects to this controversial relationship that are conveniently left out of this somewhat misleading article. I know that Sarah Hey and a lot of other bloggers won’t agree with me, but I will simply testify, again, that Tory Baucom has won my trust. And he’s been unfairly criticized by some conservative Anglican bloggers.
Daviod Handy+
Practically speaking, every church that has had to move to a new location has experienced significant losses in people. The problem for Truro would be finding an existing church or renting while building. I was told that The Falls Church had to close down a youth service, when they moved. People setting up some Falls Church services were having to go in at 2 am to set up. Church of the Apostles lost a number of people when they had to move. Perhaps renting for a while will make an easier transition, but I would not blame them for staying, if there was a reasonable way to do that. God is mainly about faithfully serving him, and He is dealing with TEC.
Thanks, Jackie.
You’re right. To me, the downside of having to relocate is perhaps best illustrated by the case of Church of the Epiphany, Herndon. When that thriving parish relocated, they suffered a huge reduction in attendance. I think their ASA was nearly cut in half. Nonetheless, leaders that I’ve talked to in all the northern VA congregations have agreed that they have no regrets about standing firm for the gospel. FWIW, my understanding is that while the big Falls Church did take a big hit initially, they have since then recouped much of the loss in ASA, despite all the manifold challenges of having to meet in several locations. Praise God.
David Handy+