Crocodile tears and sincere prayers.

October 13, 2009 by Dan Hooper.

California church gives up property after diocese split

Associated Press ~ 10.13.2009 10:05am EDT (via 365Gay.com)(Los Angeles) A conservative Los Angeles-area church that broke away from the Episcopal Church over theological differences and the consecration of a gay bishop is giving up its property.  St. Luke’s Anglican Church in La Crescenta is being returned Monday to the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles. A judge ordered the move, and the state Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal.

The congregation voted to leave the national church three years ago. The diocese sued to retain the property.   

In his sermon Sunday, the Rev. Rob Holman said fighting for principles is more important than a building.  The congregation has rented a chapel in Glendale and joined the new Anglican Church in North America, which was founded last year by breakaway Episcopal parishes.

 

This is going to sound a bit flippant, but it’s what comes to mind immediately:

A small boy was scolded by his dad for pulling the cat’s tail. “I’m not pulling the cat’s tail,” he said matter-of-factly. “The cat’s doing all the pulling.”

In recent weeks, especially since both the Episcopal Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America took decided turns for the left at their summer general Convention (a.k.a. Assembly), we’ve heard how disenfranchised the conservatives feel, as if they are losing their churchbody, or they are being forced to leave in order to make room for the homosexuals.

Excuse me, but who is doing all the pulling? I have noted this before, but it stands true. When LGBT people were in the persona non grata position, we did not all just cry that we were being rejected and walk away. Thousands of us remained faithful. We kept giving or tithing, preaching, praying, volunteering—and playing the church organ and arranging the altar flowers. We did not, repeated, did not complain that the presence of heterosexuals in the Christian church was forcing us to leave.

If you’re interested in the legal battle, St. Luke’s has posted a page on it.

Compassionate and Understanding One, we pray for those who cry unnecessary tears, and who cannot yet recognize in the changes of this world that your wide embrace includes all people. Forgive us if we have driven others away, and remind us of our mission in Christ to welcome, forgive, and show kindness to any sister or brother who may seem “weaker” in faith. In Christ’s holy name, Amen.

—Pastor Dan Hooper

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