Posted on 08/13/2005 8:23:02 AM PDT by sionnsar
[Yesterday I posted 6 churches await decision on oversight to FR. This is the response. The PDF linked at the end is not too large, a minute or so download over 26k bps dialup, and is worth a read. --sionnsar]
(For background please read this article from yesterday).
IX. Conclusion
“I will not grant the request of Church of the Redeemer, Neil Lebhar,
rector, and William Schroeder, IV, senior warden; Grace Church, Samuel
Pascoe, rector, and Thomas McKeithen, senior warden; All Souls Church,
James McCaslin, rector, and Haldane Taylor, senior warden; and St.
Michael’s Church, Alex Farmer, rector, and Emily Wilson, senior
warden, for “alternative Episcopal oversight” as they describe it in
their Letter Request of June 12, 2005.
I am, however, extending a possibility for reconciliation and of
connectedness with the rest of the Diocese of Florida to them by
offering to participate with them in the procedures of Delegated
Episcopal Pastoral Oversight, as outlined in “Caring for the
Churches.” I am also encouraging each of them to re-examine the two
alternate giving plans - Local option Giving and the Special
Ministries Fund - available to them in our diocese. I am, further, of
the opinion that DEPO as outlined in that document could be expedited
and I am willing to work toward that end. Calvary Episcopal Mission
and St. Luke’s Community of Life are missions of the Episcopal Diocese
of Florida and I am their rector. I do not grant their request for
alternative Episcopal oversight as they describe it in their Letter
Request.
I will, by the grace of God, continue to deal with those congregations
and with the lay leadership of the missions with pastoral sensitivity
and understanding. Very soon I will be meeting individually with
Fathers Sandifer and Needham in order to discuss the future of their
ministries. Finally, I must express my disappointment - even heartache
- at the response of these clergymen and of some of those in their
congregations to my ministry and to decisions made by their brothers
and sisters in the Diocese of Florida. I remain convinced that this is
one of the strongest - potentially THE strongest - diocese in our
church and in our communion. God is blessing us mightily and in
powerful ways! By our commitment to faithful orthodoxy and by our
loyalty to the institution of the church, we are assuring the strength
of that ministry to generations yet unborn. As your bishop, I will
never relent in that effort nor will I sacrifice the heritage of the
Church in this Diocese which we love so much.”
Faithfully, SJ Howard
Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams. Well, I guess when we move to Florida, my wife and I will be looking for an alternative to the Episcopal church.
Be sure to check the site in my tagline for listings. The APA is pretty active there, I believe.
I should mention also: I believe there are three Episcopal dioceses in Florida. It might depend upon where you go.
Central Florida. +Howe seems to have his priorities in order. Stated he would never leave the Episcopal Church, but that was with the understanding that it would never walk away from him.
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