You are here
Largest Episcopal Parish To "Disassociate" From Denomination
Plano Parish As Large As Jefferts Schori's Diocese
By Auburn Traycik with David W. Virtue
The Christian Challenge
June 29, 2006
In one of the first casualties of the June 13-21 General Covention, the vestry of the Episcopal Church's largest congregation has declared its intention to "disassociate" from the denomination "as soon as possible."
"The departure of Canon David Roseberry's parish, Christ Church, Plano, in the Diocese of Dallas should be considered a major upset," wrote David Virtue of VirtueOnline. "His parish has 4,500 active members, more than 2,200 who attend regularly." By contrast, Virtue wrote, the entire Diocese of Nevada, led by newly elected Episcopal Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, "has 32 parishes with an average combined Sunday attendance of 2,300. Communicants in good standing number 4,700. In short, one Texas church is as a big as the entire diocese of the new revisionist presiding bishop."
A letter from Canon Roseberry said that, in the coming weeks, Christ Church leaders would "explore the ways that [the parish's] separation will be best realized," though he assured that Christ Church will "always be within the great historic family of the Anglican Communion."
In the three years since the Episcopal Church (TEC) approved an actively gay bishop and same-sex blessings, "many laypeople, clergy (including myself) and bishops have worked zealously to communicate the clear choice that was before the General Convention," Roseberry wrote. However, he said that the convention had shown "a direction and corporate mission for [TEC] that is unmistakable," and in Christ Church's reading, entirely unconducive to the parish's mission of making disciples and teaching them to obey the commandments of Christ.
Interestingly, this early post-convention departure comes in the conservative diocese led by Bishop James Stanton, whom Christ Church's vestry continues to regard as its "apostolic leader." Stanton is said to be "very supportive" of the parish's decision and amenable to negotiating a settlement for Christ Church's property - though the Diocese of Dallas will no doubt be considering its own future in relation to The Episcopal Church.
"I very much respect the clergy and laity at Christ Church," Bishop Stanton wrote in late June. "I appreciate the sense of mission which they have, and the impact of the last two General Conventions on the way they carry out that mission. I support them in the careful way they have come to this statement. We will work together for the future, faithful to our Anglican heritage."
Stanton said his diocese has been and will remain "strongly committed to the Anglican Communion."
---Auburn Traycik is editor of independent THE CHRISTIAN CHALLENGE magazine, which has been reporting on Anglican affairs from an orthodox viewpoint since 1962. Learn more at http://www.challengeonline.org
