As parish boundaries have ceased to exist, so have Diocesan and Provincial boundaries. We are not united because we live in a particular place. We are united because we adhere to the one, holy, catholic and apostolic faith. We are united because we have embraced Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior -- the Redeemer of the World.

On November 28, 2004, The Rt. Rev. Samuel Johnson Howard, Bishop of the Diocese of Florida, fired the orthodox Vicar of St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church, The Rev. Claudia Kalis, when she made it known that she could no longer be in sacramental fellowship with him so long as he remained in Eucharistic fellowship with Griswold, Robinson, and those who had betrayed the faith once delivered and torn the fabric of worldwide Anglican Communion.

The Rt. Rev. Samuel Johnson Howard had made it adamantly clear that, as a Vicar, the Rev. Kalis served "ONLY at his pleasure." When it was no longer "his pleasure," he fired her, fracturing one of the most orthodox and fastest growing churches in the Diocese of Florida -- a 100 y.o. mission that had at long last achieved parish status, all except that they disqualified themselves because they would not financially support the Diocese while the Diocese continued to financially underwrite the heresies of the ECUSA.

Virtue Online spoke to the Rev. Kalis and asked her about Bishop Howard's actions against her. She replied, "It came as absolutely NO surprise. Bishop Howard needed to flex his muscle. I learned that he was under extraordinary pressure from outside the diocese to take action.

Although he was advised NOT to do anything, by the majority of people he consulted with, the fact remained that I was a good candidate for him. Bishop Howard had already confronted me saying ... "Do you know the difference between a Rector and a Vicar?" He informed me, through several different venues, that I served the church "only at his pleasure." Little did he know that, through his actions, he would open to me and to many of God's people a whole new and abundant life.

I know this sounds strange, but the most wonderful thing that has happened to me in my 20 years in the ordained ministry in the ECUSA was Bishop Howard's actions. He set me free to proclaim the Good News of Christ and enter into fellowship with Bishop Cavalcanti." During his sermon, Bishop Cavalcanti appealed to the 5th Sunday of Lent lectionary readings and spoke, in response to the raising of Lazarus, to the importance of us "taking away the stone." "This is what WE can do," he said. "We can take away the stones of heresy and immorality, the stone of human arrogance and defiance, the stone of apathy and accomodation, so that the Lord Jesus can ACT."

He praised and supported the people who had departed from St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church to establish the Anglican Fellowship for their sacrificial willingness to participate in "taking away the stones" that have made the work of Almighty God impossible. "Take the stone away," Bishop Cavalcanti said. "Keep taking the stone away" so that God can work out his purposes. "God will once again breathe life into the dead bones of the ECUSA. But, it is your job to remove the stones."

Bishop Cavalcanti's visit to the small town of High Springs, Florida resulted from a visit with his sister in Plantation, Florida. He was in Florida and it was only a matter of getting him from southern Florida to northern Florida.

The Rev. Kalis relished the time she was able to spend with him after picking him up at the Jacksonville airport. Virtue Online asked Kalis, "What was so special about this time?" Kalis replied, "I felt such enormous solidarity with my new Bishop. Everything about him bespoke his love of Jesus and therein we found unity. Two rebels. Two disciples.

Two defenders of the faith of Christ. We will stand together in our shared adoration of Jesus. It is wonderful to be united in Christ rather than through institutional structures." And what of Bishop Howard, we asked. Kalis replied, "Bishop Howard must find his own way ... my only prayer is that 'his own way' is the 'way of the cross'. It is my fervent and unceasing prayer that Bishop Howard will be moved by the Holy Spirit to "take away the stones" and become a prophetic voice for the one, holy, catholic and apostolic faith."

Virtue Online asked The Rev. Kalis if she believed this would happen ... if Bishop Howard would align himself and the Diocese of Florida with the historic witness of Christ crucified and worldwide Anglicanism. Kalis replied, "I pray for this every day, but, I must confess, I am not very hopeful."

What will happen to the Diocese of Florida? Kalis replied, "I don't know. Bishop Howard impresses upon his churches that the Episcopal Church is NOT a congregational church. This is true. But, his words, his mandates, his pastoral letters, his convention addresses ... promote the idea that the Diocese of Florida can be a congregational diocese. The very concept of "universal" seems to be absent from his rhetoric. It is my hope and prayer that IF/When Bishop Howard is able to step away from institutionalism and truly dedicate his life and ministry to serving Jesus ... and Jesus ONLY ... a new path will be set for him and for the Diocese of Florida."

Virtue Online asked: "Is this likely?" Kalis replied, "No. I don't think so. Bishop Howard has vowed his loyalty to the ECUSA. He'll go down with the ship. He has opted for a commitment to the institution rather than to the living Lord of Life. That's okay. But, there is a price to paid for this. And I grieve that he will indeed pay the price." What will happen with orthodox churches in the Diocese of Florida? Virtue Online asked. "Oh.

My goodness. That's a hefty question. Well ... I pray they will contine to "take away the stones" so that Jesus can act. If you believe in the salvific power of Jesus, you cannot align with the ECUSA. You have to chart an honorable spiritual path forward that is totally and completely subjected to the Word of God and his only begotten Son, Jesus.

I believe the orthodox of the Diocese of Florida will do just that. Bishop Howard will then have a big problem on his hands. I believe the Diocese of Florida is a crisis in the making to which Bishop Howard has chosen to remain oblivious." How do you feel about those who chose to remain aligned with the ECUSA by staying with St. Bartholomew's Episopcal Church and the Diocese of Florida? "You know, it's hard.

Most people in our pews have a very limited, parochial understanding of the Christian faith and the meaning of unity in the crucified and risen Lord. They truly believe that if bad things are NOT happening in their little isolated place, then everything's okay. This is what I've heard from the voices of those who have remained at St. Bartholomew's -- "Well, bad, unorthodox things aren't taking place HERE, so we're okay." I just don't accept this.

This is what is so beautiful about being aligned with Recife, Brazil and Bishop Cavalcanti. Our unity is not about geography, it is about confession and affection. It is not about 'little places' ... it is about the whole world. The people of St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church are comfortable. They love the little carpenter Gothic church that they worship in ... and they should. They like their new "pastoral priest" and they should.

These things are good ... very good. They are very grateful for having a bishop, Bishop Howard, who professes to be orthodox, and they just don't care much about anything beyond that profession. But, they have opted for "accomodation." That's okay. But it is my belief that there is an eternal price to pay for this. Each of us must ultimately answer to the Lord.

The people of St. Bartholomew's will have to answer to the Lord Jesus. So will I. I'd rather be where I am, than where they are. I am a sinful person. I have done many things which I should not have done. There are things that I should have done that I have not done. But my love of Jesus and my trust in Him has never faulted.

I will hold fast to the promises of God. I will NOT compromise or accomodate. I have been called as an ambassador of Christ and that I shall be, even in my sin and imperfection."

What would you say to those who are in discord with the ECUSA yet remain a part of the ECUSA? "Oh. That's easy. Get OUT. The peace of God which passes all understanding will be upon you. When Bishop Howard fired me, my family lost over 50% of our income. My pension was frozen. Health, dental and life insurance benefits for my family were compromised.

We lost a lot for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus. But, as we lost the world we saved our souls and the peace of God which passes all understanding has descended upon us, measure upon measure. The Lord has poured out His blessings upon us in ways that we never believed possible. Trust in God and get out of the ECUSA ... trust in Jesus and you will have life abundantly."

Kalis concludes: "Keep taking the stones away. Do as Bishop Cavalcanti says. Do your part so that God' will may be made manifest throughout the world." Where do you go from here? Virtue Online asked? Kalis replied ... "Oh, my. That's easy. Unto the ends of the earth ... baptising in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. There are people throughout the Diocese of Florida who are hungering and thirsty for the Truth of God.

I shall respond to God's call. I shall go into the Diocese and into the world baptizing people in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. I shall stand steadfast with our orthodox clergy who weep for their people and the heresies in which they have been unwillingly entrenched.

I will respond to God's call to rescue God's people from the heresies of the ECUSA and the Diocese of Florida. I will put my life on the line for Jesus and help God's people, in this diocese, to find a new way forward. And ... I shall do this in concert with a Bishop, Bishop Cavalcanti, who truly knows what it is to lay down one's life for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus Christ."

--The Rev. Claudia Kalis is the rector of Anglican Fellowship in High Springs, Florida.

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