My head hurts!

I reflected previously on my thoughts as this ecclesiastical mess emerged last month.  One of the realities that I explored is the loss of identity experienced in all this.  My own part of that is somewhat unique as I mentioned.  However, as things continue to play out, my head has started to spin even faster.  I am not sure it will slow down anytime soon.  Why?  Simply because the realities of this mess are so convoluted that they in many ways defy logic.  I thought it might be worth sharing this for the sake of those outside who are really not sure what it’s like on the inside of this (for me at least).

A week ago Friday while sitting in meetings with the Young Anglicans Project in Houston, I received a call from our office with the news that my church had not registered for our special convention.  The implication of that was that they would be leaving the diocese in order to remain in the denomination.  My heart sunk.  I was useless in the meeting for the rest of the morning.  I honestly don’t recall much of the discussions. My head was spinning.  Part of what was on my mind was concern for our youth minister who had expressed to me a hope that the church would stay with the diocese if this scenario had ever occurred.  I texted her to find out if the church would be leaving the diocese.  The reply I got was vague and said “we are waiting to make a decision”.  On Monday I got a call from another youth minister in the diocese who asked if I had seen the new website set up by those who claim to be the The Episcopal Diocese of SC.  More on what that means in a moment, but what he was drawing my attention to was a list of twelve churches that have indicated to the folks running that website that they intend to remain in the denomination.  It appeared that the decision had been made.  St. George’s was listed with those who who are forming or reforming a diocese within the denomination.  Again, my heart sank.  Getting much done Monday morning was a challenge to say the least.

Now, many who know me might wonder why St. George’s decision would bother me so much.  I am wondering this myself in some ways.  We have been members there for more than six years.  I helped with youth group for most of those years and got to know the rector fairly well.  We had many a long conversation (usually 3 hours each time).  All three of my kids were confirmed there.  However, we were not there every Sunday due in part to my work taking me elsewhere but also due to my desire to sit under expository preaching.  We never joined anything else in the church, just showed up some Sundays and helped with the youth group every week – which all three of my kids were an active part of.

So, here is where my head gets spinning.  People are members of congregations and those congregations are members of the diocese.  The diocese is a member of the denomination.  Now that the diocese has disaffiliated with the denomination, all churches within it are no longer part of the denomination (because churches are not directly members of the denomination) and must depart the diocese in order to realign with those who want to be in the denomination.  Is your head spinning yet?  So, I work for a diocese that has disaffiliated with the denomination but my church membership is with a church that (if they go through with it), will depart the diocese in order to remain Episcopalian.  I could soon technically find myself still in the denomination but working for a diocese that is outside of it. However, when I got to the special convention on Saturday, I found myself sat near the rector of St George’s.  I learned that day that the church is discerning what direction they will go.  The church has been in my prayers and I am glad they are at least thinking this through.

Now, that website… Those wishing to remain in the denomination have set this up along with a steering committee and announced a convention to choose a new bishop.  Their goal seems to be (based on how things have gone in four previously departed diocese) to establish themselves as “THE Diocese of SC” and then claim that we departed them.  This sets up the possibility of lawsuits to claim the property of all churches in our diocese.  Here is what really is hard to swallow.  There are 12 churches out of 70+ who want to claim the property of the other 60+ on the basis that they believe it belongs to The Episcopal Church.  Never mind who paid for it or that the deeds show ownership by the congregations.  The denomination passed a trust clause years back that says all property is held in trust for the ministry of the diocese.  So, they will (it seems) claim to be the diocese and insist that all property return to them.  This makes my head spin – to think that a dozen congregations want the property of the majority and will (if they win the suits) force the members out of those churches.  Imagine 60 congregations no longer having a church to meet in and 12 congregations having all these buildings to dispose of.  This is where all logic fails us.  I cannot fathom why the minority would want to displace the majority except for spite.