Bigots.
Members of North Augusta's St. John's Episcopal Church severed ties with the national congregation Sunday, rejecting a shift toward a more progressive theology that has led to the blessing of same-sex marriages and gay leaders in the church.
They are now calling themselves the Church of the Holy Trinity and are aligned with the Anglican Church in North America, an alliance created in December that presents itself as a conservative alternative to the Episcopal Church.
To avoid a legal dispute with the Diocese of Upper South Carolina, the Holy Trinity congregants abandoned the St. John's sanctuary on Belvedere-Clearwater Road and will hold their first service next Sunday in a converted warehouse near Interstate 20.
Most of the 90-member St. John's congregation agreed to follow the Rev. Rob Hartley when he and church staff announced their resignations Sunday.
"We're ready to go. I just have to pack my briefcase," he said. "We'll collect the keys and hand them to the bishop. With just the exception of a few, one or two, we're all making the switch."
Bishop Dorsey F. Henderson could not be reached for comment Sunday.
The Rev. Hartley said his decision to leave the church is more than 18 months in the making.
"I went to see my bishop. I wasn't at home in the Episcopal Church anymore," he said. "I had been an Episcopalian my whole life -- 60 years -- but the Episcopalian Church was going to a place I didn't want to go."
The consecration of an openly gay bishop, Gene Robinson of New Hampshire, in 2003 marked a turning point in church theology, the Rev. Hartley said.
"The Episcopal Church has come to the decision to become a progressive church, both theologically and socially," he said.
He came to St. John's six years ago. He's a second-career pastor, ordained in 2003.
While some churches are subsidized by the diocese, he says members of St. John's paid his salary. He will lose his pension with the Episcopal Church, and it will probably be a year or two until Holy Trinity can pay him.
The congregation could eventually receive support from the newly formed Anglican Church in North America. While no official tally tracks how many parishes have left the Episcopal Church, the splinter denomination says it represents 700 congregations and about 100,000 Anglicans.
The denomination, formed by seven American bishops, has not been recognized as an alternative to the Episcopal Church. The Anglican Communion, including the Episcopal Church, has yet to approve it as a province.
"I suspect it will take a while, but we'll be embraced by the Anglican Communion," the Rev. Hartley said. "In my own mind, I don't feel like I'm moving. I feel like the Episcopal Church has moved out from under me."
Reach Kelly Jasper at (706) 823-3552 or kelly.jasper@augustachronicle.com.
THE CHURCH OF THE HOLY TRINITY
WHAT: A new Anglican congregation independent from the U.S. Episcopal Church
WHEN: First service will be held at 10 a.m. Sunday
WHERE: Merovan Business Center, off Edgefield Highway, north of I-20 exit 5 in North Augusta
INFORMATION: (803) 341-0075 or go to www.holytrinityna.org
Comments
Bigots.
He loves you,and he needs money.
Bigots and prudes! The America arm of the taliban. They'll soon be hanging witches. Bah! GGpap.
The decision is Biblical. God bless you Rev. Hartley.
Good for you and may God Bless you all for standing strong in your faith in a world that hates you for it. Being gay is no worse than any other sinful behavior, but it is a sin none the less as is plainly stated in numerous places in the Bible. It's a choice to go with the world or go with God. You chose God. Bless you! You wouldn't approve of stealing ,or ordain a Bishop who was an unrepentant thief, or liar, or adulterer. God determines and judges what is sin and what is not. You are blessed when the people of the world curse you and hate you for the words sake. Judging by the above comments, you are blessed.
Good for these people! It takes alot of guts to sever themselves like that and start all over. Lakefront, you're right...the decision is Biblical and they're doing the right thing, not the "worldly" thing.
GGpap it is obvious the condition of your faith. You equate these people to terrorist and murderers simply because they won't lower their standards to yours. You are a LIAR! These people believe God and nothing more. They do not carry out or advocate violence against anyone, yet you make such over blown and absurd charges. You are like a child who wants its way and will say anything to get it. HATEFUL LIAR! They no more have to believe what you do, than you have to believe as they do, but I'll bet that they don't hate you as you do them. You're a sick person! Given the chance, these people would do good for you. Would you do the same? Obviously not!
Mutt, I don't hate them, nor do I hate you. I pity them and all others that are led around by a ring in their nose, otherwise interpreted as their belief in myth and superstitutions. The latter often understood as the real LIES that move the weak and gullible folks in this world. Calling me a liar will avail you nothing. Where is your proof? Again, you are to be pitied. GGpap.
GGpap. My proof is in your words. " America arm of the taliban", "They'll soon be hanging witches". Both lies, and hateful lies. You equate these people to murderers and terrorists simply because they have higher standards than yours, or simply because they believe different than you. Have they carried out or advocated violence against gays, witches, or anyone for that matter? If not, then YOU ARE A LIAR! And you don't tell such lies out of love. Do these people carry out bogus trials in their church and execute people? No! Do these people take over entire communities through violence and murder, and then force others to live according to their standards or face death? No! YOU ARE A HATEFUL LIAR! They probably believe you are being lead around by the ring of sin in your nose, and that you are backward/misguided in your thinking. God will decide between you. You're just mad because they don't approve of your beliefs, so you are showing your disapproval of them in turn. The difference is that they aren't calling you a murderer or terrorist, just lost and misguided.
Mutt, just because you say these folks are not taliban, your word is not proof that they aren't. I will admit that I should have said "taliban-like," and if their ilk ever gets complete control of society, I believe their true colors will come to fore. but, in the meantime, mutt, I'm ROFLMAO!
They aren't taliban like! You're stereotyping, and letting your imagination go wild. You don't know what these people would do! You're just telling lies and spreading hate for Christians who choose to believe Gods judgments over those of men. Why don't you test your theory! Go to them and tell them what you think and believe and see what happens, then go to the Middle East, find some of these taliban folks and do the same, let's see what happens! The people of that church will pray for you. What do you think the taliban will do? Your stereotyping, IMHO, makes you the closed minded bigot! BTW you are still a HATEFUL LIAR! Be careful ROTFLYAO, my guess is that you're so wore out that if you don't clinch your A, your guts would fall out. If you LYAO you'll really be in trouble. You could fall through and hurt yourself, maybe sprain something.
GGpap, Be careful ROTFLYAO. You may harm your partner! I think we all know your true colors.
Right. He was ordained in 2003, the same year that The Right Reverend Gene Robinson was consecrated. Why? The church was already moving in that "direction" when Mr. Hartley started seminary and he decided to become a priest in a church that was changing. Bye - our church will be stronger without you.
AugustaRaider your church is weaker if it has turned from the judgments of God in order to please men.
Folks, a church is "where 2 or more are gathered in Christ's name." These folks left the building and are starting from scratch. Why are the "progressives" and their supporters so mad? They have the building...guess they want to MAKE THESE "BIGOTS" follow their way of "thinking" even if it goes against their conscience? Hmmmmm.......Biblically, these people are taking a stand, and it looks like it is well grounded.
It's a truly edifying sight when Christians express their love toward one another.
Some of these folks aren't Christian; they're Episcopalians, and the two aren't necessarily the same thing, especially for the ones who think God just winks at behavior he forbids. He's patient, and Christians are called to love, but like it or not, the Episcopal Church in the US has gone completely off the rails. Now all we're doing is watching its slow dissolution. In a few years, it will be nothing more than a new age 'religion', as indeed, some supporting the corpse sincerely hope for.
And they are susposed to be christians! What have they, or should I say who have they been praying too? That is what is wrong with this country today,so called christians, wanting everyone to agree with them, instead of letting people live thier lives, and answer to God, not man!!!
selecting ' taliban ' illustrates the ignorance/stupidity of the poster,,, these worshippers left of their own accord - free will of determinism ',,, to my knowledge, the taliban never offered any choices to their victims other'n ' do it our way or die ! ',,, many of us in the episcopal faith're anxious/confused/disappointed at the current direction of the Church,,, God bless those who left to start anew.
The media might accept these freaks as Americans but I'm sure glad someone has the stones to stand up against this perverted, despicable, vile collection of misguided lunatics!
Some would say that Christians who abandon the Bible in order to please society are a "perverted, despicable, vile collection of misguided lunatics!" How can you be Christian (Christ like) while shunning the teachings of Jesus and the Bible. This is not a "gray area". Homosexuality is addressed clearly and in many places in the Bible. Jesus is not the Christ and God is not supreme if their teachings are subject to mans veto. God determines and judges what is sin, and it is not subject to our approval. Christians are to follow Christ, otherwise they do become misguided. The Episcopal church is misguided on this issue.
Wow! What venom! In fairness to the people of St. John’s, and as important as discerning God’s boundaries around sexuality might be [obviously important to the responders], this is not the primary issue driving the people of St. John’s. These folks are responding to issues related to the Apostolic Faith, the primacy of Scripture, the Trinitarian nature of God and the person of Jesus. It would be a shame to trivialize this based on other people’s hot buttons.
Bigots please grouse...How could a person, let alone a leader of a church, who preaches and/or teaches the Word of God which clearly denounces the union of man to man and woman to woman? This is why the Jews turned on Jesus...His teachings didn't line up with their man made rules and regulations...It is easier to preach the "warm and feel good" sermons so a large receptive crowd...Thereby increasing the congregation to a well-oiled money machine than it is to preach the Word the Truth...People like to be made to feel good about their choices in life without have someone point out their sins...That is human nature unfortunately it is wrong...It is flat out wrong...Rev. Hartley you are right in leaving...Continue to preach the Word as given...You are right...They are wrong...
Finaly Christains that stand for their beliefs.
Non nobis, Domine, non nobis, sed nomini tuo da gloriam!
Rev. Hartley it's sad but not surprising to hear that the issues at St. John's run deeper than just embracing homosexuality. Not surprising because anyone who knows the Bible knows the answer to the homosexuality issue. So if they can be that far off base on something so simple then God only knows how far off they could be on anything subjective. Stand on your faith, you are right! At least on the gay issue. As for your vs. their views on the Apostolic faith, the trinity, and the person of Jesus, that is a whole different conversation. God Bless!
The bible is NOT clear on this issue at all. The bible IS clear though on divorce and how it's an abomination and a sin. But the church and many "Christians" are all FINE with all of the divorcing and cheating and accept these people into their churches and congregations with no apprehension. Why are those who divorce and "sin" otherwise accepted so freely, and homosexuals, who are in loving relationships with consenting adults shunned? Very hypocritical to me.
The Bible is very clear on this issue of man to man and woman to woman noway...Read...
So they seperated themse;ves from the Corporate Christiandom, so what! This is news? And BTW why does it take a man 18 months to decide if something is right or wrong? Sure sounds like the person I wouldn't want leading my faith.
Leviticus Chapter 18 verse
22 " 'Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable.
23 " 'Do not have sexual relations with an animal and defile yourself with it. A woman must not present herself to an animal to have sexual relations with it; that is a perversion.
24 " 'Do not defile yourselves in any of these ways, because this is how the nations that I am going to drive out before you became defiled. 25 Even the land was defiled; so I punished it for its sin, and the land vomited out its inhabitants. 26 But you must keep my decrees and my laws.
That's pretty clear isn't it noway? So what's next, do we accept bestiality as a harmless alternative life style? Do we call a committed relationship between a man and a sheep a marriage? How about a woman and her horse, be it male or female?
GOD forbid the church would be open to a LITTLE CHANGE. You think we will be teaching the same ideals a hundred years from now? NO.
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