LeHardy said characterization by a news report from the Episcopal News Service that there was serious dissent and people would leave, was simply not true. "There was a sweet spirit throughout the time of voting. This is a close knit community, there was no anger. Nothing has changed. The service and liturgy and preaching will remain exactly as it is."

The Rev. Jeffrey Cerar the Evangelical parish rector said, "I hope to be a pastor to everyone who has been in this congregation no matter where they stand on the issues. I have never told anyone they do not belong here and I have never asked anyone to leave. I preach the uniqueness of Christ, the trustworthiness of God's Word, the divine guidance of the Bible on moral issues, and I do unashamedly preach that Jesus is THE way, THE truth and THE life. I emphasize the Great Commandment and the Great Commission."

Both Cerar and LeHardy were critical of an ENS article that a "strong viable remnant" would seek to find a new rector and retain the property. "There will be some who won't but most will stay and go with us," he told VOL. "There will be considerably less than 30 who will leave. This is a close knit community of faith."

"These are sweet spirited people who love the church, love the building and love the people. The only thing that will change is the name St Stephen's Church (Anglican) and the bishop will change but other than that the format, liturgy and love will continue for whoever worships here," said Cerar.

What most troubled him about the ENS article is that they talked like there are no other Episcopal churches in the community. "That is not true. There are eight episcopal churches within a half hour drive", he told VOL. "We are out in the country but there are quite a few Episcopal churches. We have people who come further than that to worship with us. We are evangelical in ethos and theology."

"On the inference that we didn't let people vote at vestry elections, Cerar said that only three people who asked for a ballot were turned away. They had not been coming to the church," he said.

Fr. Cerar said he had been the priest of the parish for 10 years and when he came the Average Sunday Attendance was 57, now it is 113 this year. It has doubled.

"We have always been Anglican," LeHardy said.

Charges by one parishioner, quoted in the ENS story calling the actions of the vestry and the rector, the Rev. Jeffrey Cerar, "divisive, irresponsible and manipulative" were simply not true.

"We worked hard to identify the issues and talk about them for over three years. If you don't do that you can become complicit in what is going on in the TEC. We have discussed them very seriously since GC2003. If you don't take some action then you are part of the problem you are not part of the solution," said LeHardy.

The notion of a 'large, viable remnant' who wants to continue as an Episcopal congregation is simply not true to the facts on the ground said Cerar.

Heathsville is the county seat of Northumberland County in what is known as the Northern Neck of Virginia, a peninsula that borders the Potomac and Rappahannock rivers and the Chesapeake Bay.

The jurisdiction known as the Parish of St. Stephen's dates to the 1650s, the congregation of St. Stephen's was formed in the 1880s and, according to the church's website, "struggled for decades to keep the church open."

The Diocese of Virginia issued a statement December 18 saying it plans to offer "every encouragement to establish structures necessary for their continuity as the Episcopal Church." Meanwhile, the statement said, the departing and remaining members of all eight congregations have agreed to a 30-day "standstill" during which no actions will be taken concerning church property.

Bishop Minns will come Friday for a pastoral conversation with everybody in St Stephen's community and people will be asked to speak, even those who disagree. We hope they will be here, said Cerar.

END