'Conservative' Episcopalians aren't going to take it anymore--and they're clearly the future for Episcopalians, but that can't be comforting to the existing power structure. They're finding success as independents:
St. John's Episcopal Church is 157 years old, wealthy, loyal to the diocese of Lexington and nearly empty. St. Andrew's Anglican Church is 3 weeks old, practically homeless, free of all ties to the Episcopal Church U.S.A. and growing exponentially.
About 180 people attended St. Andrew's yesterday, gathering at the Falling Springs Arts and Recreation Center in Versailles to sing and pray. Downtown, at historic St. John's, three services drew a total of 60 people.
Most of St. Andrews' parishioners had been members of the older congregation but left after diocesan leaders fired the entire governing board at St. John's.
The conservative board had clashed repeatedly with the diocese's more liberal bishop, Stacy Sauls, because of Sauls' support for the ordination of openly gay bishop V. Gene Robinson. But the leaders were removed by the diocese's executive council on Jan. 7, after they allegedly failed to follow proper procedures for hiring a new minister.
Days after the firings, unhappy St. John's members voted to form a new church and contributed $40,000 to get it started. The group, which met informally in a supporter's living room for three weeks, had its first formal worship service yesterday and welcomed its new pastor, the Rev. David Brannen, to Versailles.
Independent of denominational structures and adhering to Biblical mores is the key to religious success. Just watch the tired, liberal mainline denominations continue to endorse every sin under heaven, pat themselves on the back then discover no one else is around.
Perhaps this will open a door of opportunity for them to examine all of their practices in the light of Scripture.
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