Priests Can Bless Gay Unions

From Rio Grande-

Episcopal priests in the Rio Grande Diocese can begin to bless same-sex relationships following an announcement by Bishop Michael Vono that he would provide an official liturgy, as of Sunday, for that purpose.

The announcement comes six months after the General Convention of the Episcopal Church approved a liturgy enabling priests to bless same-sex relationships with the approval of their bishops. The blessings are allowed both in states where same-sex marriages are legal or, as in the case of New Mexico, where they are not.

“It’s not a marriage in any way,” Vono said in an interview Sunday. “It’s not a legal marriage. It’s not a marriage in the church. This is a recognition of a commitment, which is a covenant, of two people who vow to live their lives in a monogamous relationship.”

More here-

http://www.abqjournal.com/main/2013/01/07/news/priests-can-bless-gay-unions.html

Scandal adds to Episcopal woes as defections rise

From The Rio Grande-

Membership in the Episcopal Church continues to slide amidst wrangling over gay bishops, women bishops, and purse-string scandals, the most recent debacle erupting in the high desert sands of New Mexico.

In Albuquerque the Cathedral Church of St. John was seen headed toward eventual bankruptcy as its members deserted to other less-ornate, smaller Episcopal churches. Then the cathedral accountant sounded an alarm. In effect, he accused the church leadership of complacency in the sloppy way the cathedral was run. Immediately the area’s bishop rushed to quash the bad mouthing with an apparent cover-up.

Membership had spiraled down, a decline proportionately similar to the national loss in recent decades. A 2010 national headcount revealed 1,951,907 defectors from what had been 3.6 million members, church records show. Membership in 2011 held at 2,006,343, down 2.48 percent, according to the National Council of Churches.

According to disciplinary records of both faiths, bishops for both the Episcopal and Roman Catholic churches in the United States do have a record of covering up scandals, at least temporarily. Of reported cases, Catholic bishops tend to hide sexual abuse. Episcopal bishops tend to offer a mixed bag, according to published cases.

This most recent attempt to hide wrong doing has come with the muted ferocity of a mountain thunderstorm in the peaceful valley of the Rio Grande, where the largest wildfires in New Mexico history have roared practically unabated for months.

More here-

http://www.examiner.com/article/scandal-adds-to-episcopal-woes-as-defections-rise

Rio Grande, Parish Bury Two Lawsuits

From The Living Church-

A pastoral letter in Eastertide and a subsequent lawsuit have defused a longstanding dispute between the Diocese of the Rio Grande and the El Paso, Texas, parish of St. Francis on the Hill. The parish filed suit against the diocese in 2008 after its members voted to join what is now the Anglican Church in North America.

The Rt. Rev. Michael Louis Vono, Bishop of the Rio Grande, wrote a pastoral letter to the parish April 12 and distributed the letter throughout the diocese.

“The Body of Christ is not determined by litigation,” the bishop’s letter said. “No one will be questioned, judged or unwelcome as the community comes together to begin a new chapter with the Bishop. Your spiritual home has deep roots in family memories, life passages and happy occasions. St. Francis’ has been your spiritual home. It is my prayer you will consider remaining with all your brothers and sisters in the wider community at St. Francis on the Hill. I pastorally assure you that, even with a contrary mind, I will lovingly care for and accept each one of you as members of Christ’s body. A Bishop is called and chosen to be a shepherd for all people, and all includes those who may not be likeminded yet who desire to remain faithful followers of Jesus Christ.”

A lawsuit the diocese filed April 26 confronted a related issue, challenging the legality of the Los Robles Corp., an entity the parish formed after separating from the diocese.

The Rev. Dr. Felix Orji, rector of the parish since 2005, was among four defendants named in the diocese’s lawsuit.

More here-

http://www.livingchurch.org/news/news-updates/2011/7/8/rio-grande-parish-bury-two-lawsuits

Rio Grande diocese, Episcopal Church and El Paso parish agree to property settlement

From ENS-

"No litigation can determine the nature and unity of the One Body of Christ," said Bishop Michael Vono after the Episcopal Diocese of the Rio Grande, the Episcopal Church and the congregation currently occupying St. Francis on the Hill Church in El Paso agreed to resolve their differences over the ownership of church property.

The agreement calls for the breakaway congregation currently occupying the church to conduct its final service on July 31, and to vacate the property at 6280 Los Robles, El Paso, that day. The Episcopal congregation, which has been meeting at Mount Sinai Temple, will move back into St. Francis the following week and celebrate Eucharist on Aug. 7, according to a press release from the diocese.

"This agreement acknowledges that the faith of congregants is more important than litigious differences," said Vono, who became Rio Grande's ninth bishop in October 2010.

The rector and a majority of members of St. Francis voted to break away from the Episcopal Church in October 2008 citing differences concerning the ordination of women and gays. The breakaway congregation, which is affiliated with the conservative Anglican Church in North America coalition, filed a lawsuit against the diocese and the Episcopal Church in an attempt to retain church property. Subsequent court rulings have found that the property must be held in trust for the mission of the diocese and the Episcopal Church.

More here-

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/80263_128967_ENG_HTM.htm

Finally, a settlement at St. Francis

From Rio Grande-

The fight over the Westside church on the hill has finally ended.

The Episcopal Diocese of the Rio Grande has agreed to settle a 2008 lawsuit that challenged the ownership of St. Francis on the Hill Church.

The settlement means the conservative breakaway Anglican group now occupying the church has to be out by the end of July.

It also means a smaller group of Episcopalians who felt forced out of the church a few years ago will take control of the property, but not its financial assets.

The departing Anglicans have found a new home down the hill, off Mesa Hills, at 470 Eagle Dr., where members will celebrate their first service Aug. 7. They’ll call themselves St. Francis Anglican Church, a name that may change.

Lawyer Clyde Pine, an active member of the St. Francis Episcopal congregation, which numbers less than 100, was involved in the settlement talks. He said the dispute among the members of the once tight-knit church has been wrenching for him and others.

More here-

http://elpasoinc.com/readArticle.aspx?issueid=345&xrec=6592

Court rules in favor of Episcopal Church in El Paso

From Rio Grande-

On December 16, 2010 the district court in El Paso County, Texas signed a final summary judgment in favor of The Episcopal Church and its Diocese of the Rio Grande against a faction formerly with St. Francis Episcopal Church that attempted to control parish property after they left the Church in October 2008. A copy of the Final Summary Judgment is here.

The court's ruling is the second by a Texas district court to grant judgment for the Church and its diocese against former Episcopalians who left the Church but continued to claim title and control of parish property. In the other case a trial court granted a similar judgment on October 9, 2009, regarding Good Shepherd Episcopal Church of San Angelo, in the Episcopal Diocese of Northwest Texas.

The declaratory judgment issued by the El Paso Court tracks the identical positions asserted by The Episcopal Church, Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth, the Corporation of the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth, its parishes and missions, and its church officials in the case pending in the 141st District Court of Tarrant County, Texas, against former Bishop Jack Leo Iker and other former diocesan and parish officials who left the Church and the diocese but continue to claim title and control of church property donated for the use of The Episcopal Church over the last 170 years.

More here-

http://www.episcopaldiocesefortworth.org/holystewardshipfiles/release%2012.23.10.htm

Bishop candidates visit Grace House

From New Mexico-

The six nominees to be the next bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of the Rio Grande will visit Grace House in Carlsbad today as part of a six-day "walkabout" tour of New Mexico and West Texas to visit church parishes, missions and outreach centers.
The candidates will make a ministry visit to Carlsbad's Grace House, a long-term treatment center and group home for teenage boys, said the Very Rev. Tom Gray, dean of the diocese's southeast deanery and retired rector of Grace Episcopal Church in Carlsbad.

"Grace House is a ministry of the Episcopal Church, of Grace Church here and St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Artesia," said Gray. "I don't know of any better example of the church's work than what is done here at Grace House."

The nominees are taking advantage of the tour to meet and speak with Episcopal congregations and to visit church-sponsored outreach ministries, said the Rev. Daniel Gutierrez, diocesan information officer. They are also acquainting themselves with the geography of the largest Episcopal diocese in the contiguous 48 states.

"The Episcopal Diocese of the Rio Grande includes all of New Mexico, the fifth largest state in area, and that part of Texas west of the Pecos River, an area of 154,000 square miles," said Gutierrez. "The diocese boasts two time zones within its boundaries: Mountain and Central."

More here-

http://www.currentargus.com/ci_14856997

Trinity Professor Joins Rio Grande Slate

From The Living Church-

The Rev. Dr. Leander Harding of Trinity School for Ministry has joined the slate of nominees to become the ninth bishop of the Diocese of the Rio Grande. Harding is Trinity’s dean of church relations and seminary advancement and associate professor of pastoral theology.

The diocese, which encompasses New Mexico and the southwestern corner of Texas, announced Harding’s nomination by petition on March 20. The electing convention will convene April 24.

The diocese has also released question-and-answer essays by all six nominees. The essays reveal how the nominees envision helping the diocese heal after what the diocesan profile [PDF] describes as an extended period of turmoil in leadership.

“The argument could be made that the last ‘normal’ episcopacy in the Diocese of the Rio Grande was that of Bishop [C. James Kinsolving III], which ended in 1972,” the profile said after describing the tenures of Bishops Richard M. Trelease (1972–87), M. Terence Kelshaw (1989–2005) and Jeffrey Steenson (2005–07).

The profile said some in the diocese were wounded by Bishop Kelshaw’s leaving the Episcopal Church, after his retirement, for affiliation with the Anglican Church of Uganda and by Bishop Steenson’s leaving to become a Roman Catholic priest.

Each of the six nominees wrote of the Rio Grande’s need for a renewed sense of its identity.

“The bishop has to help humanize the divisive debates, create an envelope in which people can safely address differences with each other without the risk of winning or losing, and rebuild trust, mutual respect,” wrote the Rev. Ellis Tucker Bowerfind, rector, St. Luke’s, Alexandria, Va.

The bishop also should “offer an exciting opportunity to explore the natural beauty of the diocese, meeting the faithful clergy and people in their congregations, learn about and support their many important local ministries, and restore some creative peace to a diocese that has been troubled by ideological debates,” he wrote.

More here-

http://www.livingchurch.org/news/news-updates/2010/3/22/trinity-professor-joins-rio-grande-slate

Former Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord George Carey, Addresses St. John's Cathedral in Albuquerque

From Pakistan (?)

For many, a Friday evening is a time for movies, dinner with the family, or hanging out with friends. As great as these activities may be, my wife, Melanie, and I elected to attend an Evensong service at the Cathedral of St. John in downtown Albuquerque, New Mexico, on a recent Friday evening.

The reason for our visit to the beautiful cathedral was to hear the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord George Carey (b. November 13, 1935), address the congregation on Africa and the state of the Anglican Communion.

For those not familiar with an Evensong (evening prayer), it is a service composed entirely of music, Scripture reading, and prayer. The service structure is quite beautiful and majestic.

The last time Melanie and I attended Evensong together was in Canterbury, England at Canterbury Cathedral. The year was 2005, and I had just finished graduating from Canterbury Christchurch University.

Now five years later, we are back at an Evensong service, enjoying an evening of worship and music.

After the Invitatory and Old Testament lesson, taken from Hosea 14: 1-9, Lord Carey read from Mark 12, focusing on loving God with our mind, heart, body. His baritone voice and articulate inflection rang out throughout the sanctuary.

The choir, directed by Maxine Thevenot, led the congregation through the Apostles Creed, Nunc Dimittis, hymns of praise (O Gladsome Light and O Trinity of Blessed Light), and prayers, all as the organ blared the music of Buxtehude, Ned Rorem, and Thomas Noble.

After the service it was time for Lord Carey, now a member of the British House of Lords, to address the people.

More here-

http://pakistanchristian.tv/news/2010-03-14_Former_Archbishop_of_Canterbury_Lord_George_Carey_Addresses_St_Johns_Cathed.cfm

Slate of Five for Rio Grande Bishop Election

From The Living Church-

The Episcopal Diocese of the Rio Grande has nominated five men — ranging in age from 43 to 61 — in its search for its ninth bishop.

The nominees are:

The Rev. Ellis Tucker Browerfind, rector, St. Luke’s, Alexandria, Va.
The Rev. James R. Harlan, rector, Church of the Ascension, Denver, Colo.
The Rev. Jedediah D. Holdorph II, rector, St. Mark’s, Medford, Ore.
The Rev. John S. Nieman, rector, Holy Trinity, Clemson, S.C.
The Rev. Dr. Michael Louis Vono, rector, St. Paul’s Within the Walls, Rome, Italy.

The diocese has released brief statements and resumes from each of the five nominees. It will accept nominations by petition until Feb. 1. The diocese has not released discussion questions, but certain themes emerged from the nominees’ statements and resumes.

Fr. Browerfind described his ministry style at St. Luke’s: “Liturgical exploration at a tolerable rate. Strengthen stewardship. Work with parishioners to offer pastoral care. Support strong commitment to diocese. Do not choose sides in current polarizing debates on social justice.”

Fr. Harlan emphasized church growth and pastoral care, writing that in his various ministries he has increased parish membership “from small, pastoral-sized congregation (60 on a Sunday) to energized transitional-sized (150 on a Sunday)”; “implemented creative worship and education programs to reach spiritually indifferent sailors”; and “deepened spiritual lives through strong, engaging preaching and teaching and faithful worship leadership.”


More here-

http://www.livingchurch.org/news/news-updates/2010/1/20/slate-of-five-for-rio-grande-bishop-election

New Mexico diocese votes to stay Episcopal

The Diocese of the Rio Grande votes to leave the Network and stay in the Episcopal Church. (Now those are hats!)

Episcopalians in New Mexico have voted to leave a conservative umbrella group and "reaffirm" their commitment to the Episcopal Church rather than join a new rival Anglican province on U.S. soil.

The Albuquerque-based Diocese of the Rio Grande on Thursday (Dec. 11) said it could not support plans to launch a new Anglican Church in North America and voted to end its four-year membership in the Pittsburgh-based Anglican Communion Network.

The Anglican Communion Network is one of 11 conservative groups that joined together to launch the new province on Dec. 3. Four Episcopal dioceses that belonged to the Pittsburgh group and have already left the national church plan to join the new province.

But other Episcopal dioceses that supported the Pittsburgh group, like Rio Grande, do not plan to join the new province and are likely to remain in the Episcopal Church, officials said.

"The Standing Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of the Rio Grande disaffiliates from the Anglican Communion Network and rescinds its motion of support … and reaffirms the Diocese of the Rio Grande’s commitment to the Episcopal Church," the diocese’s elected leadership said in a unanimous resolution.

http://ncronline3.org/drupal/?q=node/2849

St. Francis El Paso leaves TEC

I ran piece on this sevral days ago, but here's more. For those who may not know, Bishop Frey is the former Dean of Trinity Seminary in Ambridge.

A statement released by the diocese said that the acting Bishop William Frey --- who had been appointed bishop following the resignation of former Bishop Jeffrey Steenson who last year left the Episcopal Church for the Roman Catholic Church ---- informed the parish that ”if they made the decision to leave the Episcopal Church, they could not take their property with them."

However, the parish stated it would contest the diocese’s claim of ownership. “As early as 2004, we let it be known that our by-laws clearly outlined how and why we owned our own property,” Mr Munden said. “We built this church with money from our parishioners --- not one dime came from the Episcopal Church or from the Diocese. This church and grounds belong to St Francis on the Hill.” St Francis is the second El Paso Episcopal parish to quit the diocese. In 2008 St Clements, one of the largest parishes in the diocese, seceded from the Episcopal Church, and was permitted by Bishop Steenson to take its property with them.

http://www.religiousintelligence.co.uk/news/?NewsID=3251

El Paso Church chooses to leave TEC Bill Frey says property stays in the diocese

Bill Frey who is currently the Bishop of Rio Grande was the Dean of Trinity Seminary and is very much a conservative. Looks like there might be a fight in Rio Grande as well.

EL PASO - St. Francis-on-the-Hill in West El Paso has elected to leave the Episcopal Church, according to an announcement by the Very Rev. Mark Goodman of the Episcopal Diocese of the Rio Grande in Albuquerque.

The vestry of St. Francis-on-the-Hill in El Paso voted Oct. 21 to leave the Episcopal Church, with a majority in favor of the action, Goodman said.
"This decision comes after meetings between the congregation, the president of the standingcommittee and the assisting bishop of the Diocese of the Rio Grande, the Right Rev. William Frey," Goodman said.

"At those meetings, Bishop Frey and Canon Kelly made it clear to the congregation that, if they made the decision to leave the Episcopal Church, they could not take their property with them."

http://www.elpasotimes.com/ci_10829287?source=most_emailed

Good Stuff : Rio Grande

This is from the August Diocesan Newsletter and is pre-Lambeth but I'm sure the sentiments haven't changed. The President of the Standing Committee is writing to the diocese and describing a plan for reconciliation not separation. Refreshing ! ("Reconciliation" - by Vladimir Sokolov- right)


A message from
The Rev. Canon Colin P. Kelly, III, D. Min
President of the Standing Committee

As I write to you, most of the bishops within the Anglican
Communion are meeting in England, under the leadership
of the Archbishop of Canterbury at what is commonly called
The Lambeth Conference. They are in our prayers. Many
clergy and laity are eagerly or anxiously awaiting some
statement from this Conference. All hope and pray this gathering
of our bishops will provide some clear leadership for
the future of the Communion. Some fear that nothing substantive
will come forth and they wonder if they should make
plans to leave The Episcopal Church.

I have heard from some that there are fears within our
own diocese that the Standing Committee and others in
leadership are promoting an image of a unified diocese,
when in fact there are serious divisions. From the beginning,
we on the Standing Committee have acknowledged that our
diocese has many issues with which to contend. Among
them are the differing theological positions held by the
members of our diocese. It is, in fact, because we do not
have a mirage of a unified diocese that we are working to
prayerfully face into the divisions which exist in our diocese.

Our Lord, Christ Jesus directs us to go and be reconciled
with our brother or sister when we discover that they have
something against us. (Mt 5:23-24) We see this process of
healing continuing for the next several years, going deeper
and deeper, much like the image of peeling the onion. As a
response to the call of the people of our diocese for healing
and reconciliation, we formed the New Life Healing and
Reconciliation Process. All of our leadership teams: The
Standing Committee, The Diocesan Council, and the
Search and Transition teams experienced the first Healing
and Reconciling Retreat.

The New Life Healing and Reconciliation process is designed
with the following vision:

* Call together the community of Jesus Christ.

* Develop a sustainable process that offers hope for
healing, reconciliation, and restored trust.

* Build communication capacities that are transparent,
respectful, and loving.

* Provide opportunities to live in the tension of diversity.

*Create a Sacred Space as a safe place to share stories
and explore differences.

* Establish connections that transcend differences.

The retreats will also offer people across the diocese the
opportunity to inform the profile being developed as a part of
our search for a new bishop.

I invite you to come work with your brothers and sisters in
Christ to bring healing in the body of Christ, that together we
may glorify our Lord and bear witness to Christ's reconciling
power.

In Christ’s love,
Colin+

(You can see all of the Good Stuff posts by typing "Good Stuff" into the Blog's search engine.)