From the Press and Sun-Bulletin:
After months of discussion, a Vestal church vestry voted this week to withdraw from the Episcopal Church and join an orthodox province that believes homosexuality is incompatible with biblical teaching.
“We’re doing what we believe,” said the Rev. Anthony Seel, pastor of what is now St. Andrew Anglican Church. “We’re not in the same place as the Episcopal Church.”
Seel said the vestry’s 8-0 decision Monday came after years of discussions and a recently completed congregational survey that showed 88 percent of St. Andrew’s adherents — between 250 and 275 members — favored leaving the Central New York Diocese and the Episcopal denomination.
Central New York’s bishop expressed regret Thursday at the local church’s decision.
“It’s very sad to me that we’ve come to this day,” said Bishop Gladstone “Skip” Adams from diocesan headquarters in Syracuse. “Let’s stay at the table (and talk). Separation is not necessary. It’s possible to disagree.”
“It’s possible to disagree.”
Of course. No one is saying otherwise. However, it is not possible to be in communion with those who reject the teaching of the Church, as TEC does.
Tony,
I think it would be interesting for you to share the survey form you used.
RGEaton
Why would we want to belong to a Church that believes in a different god?
The diocese lost 24 percent of baptized members from 1995 to 2005 and lost 5 percent in real (adjusted for inflation) Plate & Pledge. About 71 percent of its churches had Plate & Pledge of $100,000 or less in 2005. They are in poor financial shape to try and leave with or without their property. Of the 29 percent with Plate & Pledge of over $100,000 ( 28 in number) two have already voted to leave TEC.
Skipping Skippy, eh? It’s not just peanut butter here folks. There’s real opportunity to disagree (we just don’t listen). Gotta love the CEO’s known as bishops. They’d be OTD in a real job.