Conservative Anglicans in southern Ohio. . . almost 5 years later

From Per Christum, a blog started in 2006 by a group of Catholic converts. This post is by David Bennett, who in July of 2003 was preparing to enter Episcopal seminary and by August of 2004 had become a Roman Catholic:

. . . Why did I write this post? The other day I was thinking back to those times, and how much I was struggling with my place in the Episcopal church, and within the Church in general. I didn't struggle alone, but with friends and companions in the fight for orthodoxy. Nonetheless, I realized that over the last (soon-to-be) 5 years, most of us have left the Episcopal church, and many of us have left Anglicanism. It is kind of depressing in a way, but I know for a fact that many of our little group that have left are happy with the decision, and those who have stayed are joyful in their calling as well. It also shows just how many self-described orthodox in Southern Ohio have left the Episcopal church; If this is happening all over the country, TEC is most certainly moving even more leftward by default. . .

Read it all.
H/t to TitusOneNine.

Ohio: Bay Presbyterian negotiating exodus from denomination

I think the conservative Presbyterians had better watch out - check out what I've boldfaced in this article from The Plain Dealer (Ohio):

The largest Presbyterian church in Northeast Ohio is offering a $550,000 buyout to its denomination so it can move to a more-conservative church body.

Bay Presbyterian Church in Bay Village wants to become part of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, joining other congregations upset with what they consider liberal theological trends and growing acceptance of gay and lesbian clergy in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

Unlike the Episcopal Diocese of Ohio, which this year sued several local churches seeking to leave the denomination that approved a gay bishop, the Presbytery of the Western Reserve is negotiating with Bay Presbyterian. Bay spokesman John Fuller said the church has more than 2,000 members, representing about 14 percent of the total membership of nearly 14,000 in the Western Reserve area.

The presbytery negotiating team initially asked for $3 million to be paid over 10 years as compensation for the loss of giving and membership with Bay's departure. The Rev. Elizabeth Hendricks, general presbyter, said Friday the group is still discussing a revised offer.

Bay officials, who want to keep the building and land, said that the presbytery negotiating team is insisting on more than $1 million but that the church's final offer is $550,000 over 10 years.

The presbytery is scheduled to act on the church's offer at its May 28 meeting.

Both sides are hoping for a resolution.

"We would like to avoid the civil court process if at all possible," Hendricks said. "All of us think it is not what the Bible instructed us to do, at least not as a first resort."

Fuller said the church has not decided on other options. "We're just trusting we will be dismissed," he said. . .

"At least not as a first resort" - be afraid, be very afraid!

Read it all.

"The quality of mercy is not strained. . ."

. . . It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest:
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes.
Tis mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes
The throned monarch better than his crown.
His scepter shows the force of temporal power,
The attribute to awe and majesty,
Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings.
But mercy is above this sceptered sway;
It is enthroned in the hearts of kings;
It is an attribute of God himself;
And earthly power doth then show like God's
When mercy seasons justice.

William Shakespeare
The Merchant of Venice, Act IV, Scene 1

Unfortunately, we're not seeing this "attribute of God himself" in today's Episcopal Church. Perhaps a quote from Julius Caesar is more appropriate: "Cry 'Havoc,' and let slip the dogs of war."

From the Living Church [boldface mine]:

Diocese of Ohio Litigation Ends 'Peaceful Way to Coexist'

The Diocese of Ohio recently filed a declaratory judgment with the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas in Cleveland, asking that it, the diocesan trustees, and a minority of members at five dissident congregations be declared the rightful owners of church properties where the congregations voted overwhelmingly to leave in 2005.

The March 26 filing came just a month after an article in the Akron Beacon Journal described how the relationship between the five dissenting congregations and the diocese was an exception to the personal acrimony and litigation prevalent throughout many other dioceses of The Episcopal Church. In another break with standard practice in most other dioceses, Bishop Mark Hollingsworth, Jr., of Ohio did not depose the clergy when they requested transfer of their canonical license to the Anglican Church of Nigeria.

In the Beacon Journal article, Martha Wright, communications officer for the Diocese of Ohio, had said, “We are looking for a faithful resolution to the property issue involving the congregations that have elected to leave the diocese. The priests in those congregations have asked to be released from their orders and their requests have been granted, but we have not taken any action where property is concerned.”

Ms. Wright told The Living Church she was not aware in February of any plans to file legal papers at the time of her interview with the Beacon Journal. But she denied that the decision to pursue litigation at this time represents a new approach in dealing with the five congregations.

“The Episcopal Diocese of Ohio is seeking to resolve issues of property ownership and use with respect to five of its parishes in a mutually respectful manner,” she said in a written statement. “In order to move toward a long-term resolution, the Diocese of Ohio has asked the Court of Common Pleas to decide the parties’ respective rights with respect to the property.”

Bishop Hollingsworth declined to elaborate on the statement provided by Ms. Wright. . .

What, is Bishop Hollingworth in hiding?

Someone please explain to me what hold the presiding bishop has over these bishops. I think of Bishop Lee in Virginia who seemed so close to an amicable agreement. What could other bishops possibly say or do to make a bishop change his mind like that? Is it fear of presentment? Or no longer getting the spiritual and emotional support from other bishops? Or blackmail of some kind? Really, I just do not get it.

Read it all.