BB NOTE: The following is a letter from the Rev. John Yates, rector of The Falls Church regarding Bishop Lee's January 18th letter and press release. Tip of the TinFoil Hat to StandFirm.LATER: Here is a great interview with the Rev. John Yates and Dr. Os Guinness on why they left the Episcopal Church:
A Letter to The Falls Church
by the Rev. John Yates, Rector
Yesterday we sent an announcement about this week’s upcoming activities celebrating and exploring our many Outreach ministries - it’s called Week for the World. It’s exciting to contemplate the scores of ministries in which we’re involved.
However, yesterday’s announcement by the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia, that he considers us “to have abandoned our church,” reminds us of the other crucially important mission in which we are engaged, and that is our mission to maintain our witness as an historic church that is in the Anglican tradition, true to scripture and true to our Reformation heritage. We have the great privilege to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ and sacrificially serve him to extend the mighty reign of God. While the announcement by Bishop Lee was not unexpected, the letter he wrote and the claims he makes are extremely disappointing to me, especially after the efforts of the last year to build consensus around a negotiated settlement plan for churches departing the Diocese. It is only as I reflect on our fundamental disagreements about the meaning of truth, authority, the nature of the church itself, and Christian orthodoxy, that I can make sense of his position. I hope you will read his letter below, and form your own opinions. In addition, I would like to clarify just a few questions raised by this announcement.
We are described in this letter as “dissidents” who have abandoned our church, leaving behind a congregation without clergy or vestry. We are accused of “abandonment.” This is a technical word adapted from the canons of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia. It really means that since our congregation has voted overwhelmingly, in accordance with Virginia law, to separate from The Episcopal Church, The Episcopal Church views this as somehow abandoning our physical church property, and, as well, the minority who opposed this decision. Given that 2,500 people are here worshiping God each weekend, it is a curious choice of words.
I think you know that our attitude towards our church members who did not want to leave The Episcopal Church has always been consistent. These are our brethren and we are still members of The Falls Church family together. We are excluding no one from worship or from parish meetings of any kind. Our vestry and clergy care deeply about every member of this church family. I have learned that last Sunday 40 of our people met in a private home to worship with an “Episcopal” priest suggested by the press secretary of the Diocese. This saddens me greatly. Bishop Lee says that these brothers and sisters have been “spiritually abandoned.” I have met with one of the organizers this week and I have sought repeatedly to reach out to those who did not agree with the outcome of our congregational vote. I will continue to do so. As I wrote you 10 days ago, I have three meetings scheduled over this weekend for this very purpose. I hope many will come.
The announcement also implies that we can no longer be considered part of the Anglican Church. While this is certainly not the most important issue, I do want you to understand the facts. The announcement misquoted a recent statement by a lawyer connected to the Archbishop of Canterbury regarding CANA’s position within the Anglican Communion. Our Anglican District of Virginia (ADV) is part of the Convocation of Anglicans in North America (CANA), which is in turn part of the Church of Nigeria, the largest province in the Anglican Communion and a branch of the Communion by any definition. Just as the Diocese of Virginia currently enjoys communion with Canterbury indirectly through The Episcopal Church, so do we, the members of ADV, enjoy communion with Canterbury indirectly through CANA and the Church of Nigeria. You may wish to read both of the relevant statements here.
I don’t believe there is any present “danger” of diocesan attempts to “take over” our buildings or property here. I worry more about the smaller rural churches that are apparently being singled out as targets by the Diocese. I do expect the Diocese to attempt to organize another “vestry” at our church, since they do not accept the legality of our vestry here. I pray that none of our church family will be taken in by such efforts. There is only one vestry of The Falls Church and it is the one you elected.
The vestry meets again this Monday night and I will endeavor to keep you updated. We do not like to devote much time to these matters on Sunday mornings when we gather for worship, so please be alert to the news and watch for future updates from me.
–The Rev. John Yates is rector of The Falls Church, Falls Church, Virginia
6 comments:
Fr. Yates wrote, "The announcement also implies that we can no longer be considered part of the Anglican Church."
I would think that the good Rector would at least proofread more carefully -- it is the Anglican Communion not the "Anglican Church." And this is the sort of conflation of terms that confuses those outside -- you know, the ones we're trying to bring inside?
The radio program clip is very interesting. I'd encourage people to listen into the segment w/ Judge Pressler. This man actually is everything in the Baptist denomination that liberal Episcopalians would accuse members of TFC and Truro of being. He's a real life fundamentalist and his advocacy of reforming Baptist universities and seminaries has led to removal of women from teaching posts (occured this past week at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft Worth) and serious discussions of ripping all mentions of evolution from biology courses.
My guess is he would even call Rev Yates out for allowing women on the vestry - much less for having women preach and lead Communion.
This is not meant to be criticism of Judge Pressler, but intended to illustrate how much more room their is to the "right" of the positions taken by the parishes who've associated themselves with CANA.
I suppose that where ever there are two or three gathered together, someone has to stand on the right.
bb
Why don't we stand in a circle and just focus on what's in the center (assuming we can agree on what is in the center and don't use rhetorical devices to rename the circle a square)?
Padre Wayne:
I think you're touching on Church visible verses invisible thing. Protestants use Church in ways that drive Roman Catholic nuts, lessor Eastern Orthodox. A Protestant usually would not have a problem the statement. The Anglican Communion is the proper name and you are correct, the one we should probably use to lessen confusion.
I am wondering exactly how many members of the Falls Church (and Truro Church) came from IRD (the so-called Institute on Religion and Democracy). It's apparent that their actions of late are part of IRD's agenda.
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