The Episcopal Church welcomes you, unless you're English

Last night I got a hearty laugh (well, a somewhat silent laugh - it was late) over this post from Red Stick Rant. Apparently when you search for the phrase "the Episcopal Church welcomes you" on Google, this December 2007 Red Stick Rant post is placed fairly high (either 4th or 3rd, depending upon the search).

The title of the post? "The Episcopal Church Welcomes You. If You Agree With Us, That Is."

It quotes from a welcoming, inclusive letter from an Episcopalian which states, in part:

Go back to your narrow-minded, non-accepting, un-Christ-like thinking/attitudes and leave us Episcopalians alone to think and believe as Christ did, not judging, but accepting all who believe in Him!

The letter from Karen T. Morgan of Colton, New York has since been moved to an archival page, but can still be found in the December 2007 archive (down toward the bottom).

Apparently December 2007 was a turbulent month for the Episcopal Church. (Actually every month is probably a turbulent month for the Episcopal Church.) While one Episcopalian was becoming a Roman Catholic, another Episcopalian (John-David Schofield) was uniting with the Argentina-based Anglican Province of the Southern Cone, which prompted this letter:

Continuing Episcopalians making plans to reconstitute Diocese of San Joaquin

By Robert Miller • Minneapolis, Minnesota, Dec 14, 2007

A little-known background on David Schofield, which, in part, explains his rejection of the polity of the Episcopal Church: he received his formation as a priest in the Church of England, not in any American seminary. Consequently, his understanding of Episcopal authority follows the Church of England model. I first met David while he was serving St. Colomba's Church in Inverness, California. Upon ordination in the Diocese of California, I was invited to celebrate my first Eucharist at St. Colomba's. To my surprise, the Missal on the altar was that of the Church of England, and not the book published for use in this country by the Frank Gavin Foundation. Alas, before family and friends, I stumbled along as best I could with a service I was altogether unfamiliar with.

Presumably Schofield's behavior was forwarded to the Episcopal Committee on Un-American Activities. Actually, it was.

Schofield now has two months to recant his position or renounce his orders by way of Title IV, Canon 8, Sec. 2 or Title III, Canon 12, Sec. 7.

As a Lutheran, I found that word "recant" particularly amusing.



As for Schofield, he didn't...um...recant.

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