St. Luke’s of the Mountains loses its property to Episcopal Church USA

ST. LUKE’S OF THE MOUNTAINS LOSES ITS PROPERTY: It was with sadness – though it was a foregone conclusion – that I read this article about an orthodox Anglican church losing its property to the Episcopal Church USA. St. Luke’s of the Mountains is one of the many “breakaway” Anglican churches in the U.S. that aligned themselves under orthodox believing Dioceses in other countries. In St. Luke’s case, they aligned with a diocese in Uganda back in 2006.

If you are unfamiliar with what is it stake, it’s theology. As the article says, “The congregation had cited theological differences when severing ties to the Episcopal Church (TEC) in 2006 and realigning with an Anglican diocese in Uganda.” In simpler terms, this congregation did not agree with, among other things, the Episcopal Church USA’s support of gay marriage and of the elevation to bishop of openly gay Gene Robinson of New Hampshire. Anglican Mainstream is a good place to stay abreast of this issue and how it continues to unfold around the world.

Across the country, churches like St. Luke’s are finding their property confiscated. This particular congregation has been preparing for the possibility for quite some time. I’ll be back in contact with these friends. St. Luke’s has come close to Harambee in the past two years, and I’ve grown to know and appreciate a few of their people. I’ve followed the rifts in the Episcopal Church USA for some time, and so have been familiar with St. Luke’s for years. In fact, when a Harambee intern with ties to another “breakaway” Anglican church arrived at Harambee, I sent him straight to St. Luke’s.

There is a sense, among St. Luke’s members, that there may even be some renewal in this entire episode for their congregation. What will it mean for them to not have a physical location that they call home, at least for a period of time? We emerging church types are quite used to meeting in school auditoriums, living rooms, back yards, parks, theatres, etc., but it’s a fresh new step for “higher church” types like Anglicans. I say, “Bring the liturgy with you to the urban street corner. We could use more of it.”

• Here is one of the best fund-raising appeals I’ve read in a long time:

…we don’t have a rich patron who covers the bills, particularly when times are hard. We have you, and you and — well, okay, — maybe not you (Go back to the Democratic Underground you lurker!). If you think we don’t find it awkward asking for your help, you’re wrong. And if you think you can generate safe cold fusion energy by gluing duck-butts together and taping a 1982 ColecoVision game console to their underbellies, you’re wrong about that too. Would that we had such safe and reliable means of generating alternative energy. And would that we didn’t have to rattle the tin cup in your faces. But we do and we’re very grateful for any help you can offer in these trying times.

• I love these seats: In Dodger Stadium, a bleacher of girthly delights

• Wal-Mart’s Weight Effect: Surprisingly, discount retailers make people healthier. Huh.

• How about them Lakers? I called the series in 5. Everyone else in the known universe, including President Obama, said six. Double huh.