Witnessing theology from inside

Report on the situation in Virginia and one of the parishes that decided to stay in TEC and why.

"I respected the congregation's wishes," he told me. "I struggled with the decision to stay in the Episcopal Church. As things dragged out, we were late in taking that vote."

St. Peter's ended up losing 50 percent of its members. Mr. Koth went on a leave of absence, then left the church in December 2007. By that point, the congregation was down to 150 members.

"We were a small mission church," Mr. Koth said, "so they didn't have the strength to withstand what happened."

In April, he was hired at the Falls Church, the largest of the 11 departing congregations. Amazingly, the 11, now part of the Anglican District of Virginia, have won a series of legal battles with the diocese to keep their property. A fourth and final court decision comes out Friday.

Marvin Lawley, senior warden at St. Peter's, told me things there are looking up and that 14 new families have arrived.

"We made more impact by staying than by going away," he said.

http://washingtontimes.com/news/2008/dec/18/witnessing-theology-from-inside/