From the morning’s Post & Courier:
The congregation has recommended that the parish “affiliate with the Anglican Church in North America and separate from The Episcopal Church,” according to a posting online by its rector, the Rev. Steve Wood.
The Anglican Church in North America upholds an “orthodox” theology and is seeking recognition as a new non-geographical Anglican province recognized by the Archbishop of Canterbury. Established in June 2008, it has nearly 750 parish affiliates.
The congregation’s decision came after a formal 40-day discernment process. More than 900 response forms were submitted; 838 recommended realignment while 58 recommended remaining part of The Episcopal Church. A few responses were left blank.
The vestry of St. Andrew’s will convene after the holidays to consider an official course of action, parish officials said.
The discernment process is a result of the dilemma caused by The Episcopal Church, Wood said in an e-mail.
“The call of every Christian is to stand with and for Christ. The amazing story of a God who loves us and pursues us has been lost by our national leadership which seems to no longer believe the very story entrusted to their care,” he wrote. “The Gospel story is that God in Christ reaches out to broken and lost humanity offering real hope for a new life. St. Andrew’s seeks to faithfully and humbly give witness to this glorious hope.”
Two other South Carolina churches recently took steps moving away from The Episcopal Church.
Related Articles
3 users responded in this post
Comment removed – invalid email address
100% behind you, brother…and your church. Let me know if I can help you in ANY way.
It is a hard exit…emotionally, spiritually, and from a leadership challenge too. But the Lord is clearly leading you…so He will guide you.
Stand firm in the faith…be strong…be courageous. Remain prayerful at all times.
DHR
Fr. Wood,
After a 40-day discernment process, about 70% of our parish left TEC for CANA at the end of 2007 and then joined ACNA after it came into being. It wasn’t always easy, but the Holy Spirit provided everything we needed at exactly the right time.
If your parish, vestry, and clergy (including you, of course) remain united, keep praying, and listen to the steps that the Spirit tells you to take, He will take you to the other side rejoicing. He sure did for us.
You and your parish will be in my prayers.
–A sister in Christ from central Ohio