Parish Toolbox

by Peter Frank

Editor’s Note: Fr. C. Bradley Wilson of Fox Chapel recently wrote his congregation.  He speaks about a series of parish meetings dealing with the issues facing the church, releases results from a parish vote on preferences for the future and speaks about what that future may look like.

Thank you

On Sunday, October 14, we concluded the last of our four Town Hall presentations addressing the national church Crisis. Let me begin on a very personal note. I am so very grateful for the many comments, letters, notes, and emails of assurances and support during this extraordinarily difficult time. The regular theme has been “Thank you for the excellent series” or “primer on national apostasy”. Another theme has been “Are you alright?” A blithe dismissal of “Yeah, I’m fine” doesn’t adequately acknowledge the oppressive spirit that I with all the clergy in the diocese am suffering under. These well-meant expressions of support mean so very much to me and Carol. Thank you.

Especially of note is my deep, deep gratitude (and pride, if that is permitted) for the spirit in which our people have comported themselves during the four evening Presentations. One hears horror stories from other churches and dioceses about their meetings erupting into bitter acrimony and angry misbehavior. Our meetings were all characterized by courtesy, respect, listening, and a deep concord of good-will. I am so proud of all of you.

Results

The poll/survey referendum is completed and (drum-roll, please) the results are in with a total of 58 votes by Fox Chapelites.

Circle the Wagons Option [stay within] 15 25.9%
Launch the Lifeboats Option [parishes leave individually] 7 12.1%
Prepare for the Exodus Option [the diocese realigns] 35 60.3%
Unconditional Surrender Option 0 0%
The A.M.I.A Option 1 1.7%
The Other Denomination Option 0 0%

A second poll/survey referendum has been suggested for people who chose not to attend or were unable to attend the meetings. The result of that poll/survey also will be communicated to our six deputies upon completion.

What happens next?

Immediately and for the next year nothing happens. For that year we will continue to worship and serve the God revealed by Jesus Christ without any real change. Lawyers and lawsuit will rumble and roar as will rumors and gossip. Jesus warned us about
“wars and rumors of war.” Remain firm, he said, and be steadfast.

One of the most beautiful virtues revealed in our Seven Letters series is central, even vital, to us here. “Patient endurance”, which translates the Greek word hupomene, is still inadequate as a translation to the constant and energetic persistence of this sterling virtue. For most of us patience is sitting bored in a waiting room doing nothing. Not so hupomene! It’s a farmer waking at 4:30 a.m. one more time to tend to his chores. It’s a single mom doing housework after the kids are asleep one more time. It’s a football team, down 17 points at half-time, with clenched teeth charging out to take the field one more time. “Keep on keepin’ on” is its heroic motto.

What will eventually happen?

It was the hope of many of us that the House of Bishops at its New Orleans meeting would “repent and return to the Lord” by submitting to the international Windsor Report. Instead, their September 30 response and the subsequence review by the Joint Standing Committee (JSC) of the Primates and the Anglican Consultative Council is best characterized: “The House of Bishops pretended to submit to the Windsor Report and the JSC pretended to believe them.” The Episcopal Church’s undigestible fudge is the obfuscating rhetoric of the Anglican Communion’s bad boy who, refusing to play by the rules, terrorizes everyone else in the house. My friend Geof Chapman, Rector of St. Stephen, Sewickley has written to his parish, “We believe there shall be no viable long term future for our parishes in this church unless we make unacceptable compromises on matters of first importance” (his emphasis). I fully agree with him that for orthodox Christians that is not an option.

The single option for orthodox, biblical Christians committed to a Prayer Book tradition is to realign with some other province of the Anglican Communion which will permit and even celebrate “the faith once delivered to the saints” (Jude 3b).

Again, please remember that these events are only slowly unfolding. And almost every week bring a new perspective or nuance to our future path. We must equally oppose the over-zealous partisans whose motto is “Ready. Fire. Aim.” Instead let us move calmly, wisely, and together. And this, indeed, is our Bishop’s strategy: stay together.

Lastly, there is still much time for continuing conversations. Many of the Anglican resources on the internet are very fair and very useful. And many gatherings will emerge from time to time. Let us in this and in all things be a people of grace; let us be infectious with the love of God. That is our calling; it is our identity.

Faithfully in Christ,
C. Bradley Wilson, Rector and Pastor