No Big Surprises In Virginia

Well, the congregations of Falls Church and Truro in Virginia have voted by high margins (over 90%) to leave The Episcopal Church and associate themselves with CANA (the Convocation of Anglicans in North America) under the Church of Nigeria and Archbishop Peter Akinola. In my opinion, they have decided that they can't be part of a church which ordains gays and lesbians and but they do think that it is part of the gospel message to associate with a church and Archbishop who supports a law which will imprison gays and lesbians and even those who would meet or eat with them in public! I'm pretty sure that's what Jesus would do!!

As JCF stated over at Father Jake’s, did those people read the same collect as the rest of us today: "Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen." or did their version read "we are sorely hindered by other's sins"?

This all reminds me of verses 19 and 20 of the second chapter of John 1: "They went out from us, but they did not belong to us; for if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. But by going out they made it plain that none of them belongs to us. But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and all of you have knowledge."

I hope they find spiritual fulfillment in their neo-Donatist "pure Anglican" church. I hope that they also realize that the Spirit of Truth does not support hate.