No Safe Place: Christ Church San Antonio Splits

Sad news comes this month from Christ Church San Antonio: this large heretofore orthodox parish is splitting over whether to remain in The Episcopal Church. This comes after the retirement of rector Chuck Collins. His reason:

. . . my decision to take early retirement is because of a crisis of conscience. Even though I was born and raised in The Episcopal Church, it has moved further and further away from the Gospel to which I committed my life and I have concluded that there is no future for me in this spiritual environment.

And now a majority of the vestry and both wardens have also decided there is no future for them in the Episcopal Church and are leaving.

From time to time, I have asserted that there is no safe place for the orthodox in the Episcopal Church. And this sad episode illustrates one reason why. It is difficult to impossible to keep committed faithful orthodox people in this heretical denomination. Even a seemingly strong orthodox parish in an orthodox diocese, such as Christ Church, can keep its orthodox heart for only so long in such an environment.

Please, for the sake of the gospel and of your parish, if you can take your parish out of the Episcopal Church, pray and consider doing so as quickly as possible. And that even if you will lose the building. Better to lose even the most beloved property than to lose the faithful heart of your parish.

Christ Church San Antonio “Divided”

The unity of Christ Church San Antonio is yet another victim of the Episcopal Church. In a letter to his Vestry, the always straight-speaking rector Chuck Collins acknowledges that Christ Church “is deeply divided . . . over whether or not to stay in The Episcopal Church.”

The situation is so “polarized” that Collins is convinced the issue must be addressed and soon:

I ask the vestry to forthrightly address the following as soon as possible: Given the deep divisions at Christ Church over the question of our continuing relationship with The Episcopal Church, what is the way forward for this parish family that honors our core values, our love for the Lord, and our love and respect for every member.

Kudos to Fr. Collins for facing the situation head on. And prayers ascend for Christ Church San Antonio.

Chuck Collins of Christ Church San Antonio Reports on General Convention

Chuck+ Collins, the rector of Christ Church San Antonio has reported to his parish on the Episcopal Church General Convention just completed.

Collins is a straight talking and resolutely orthodox rector of a (the?) flagship parish in the Diocese of West Texas. So I make a point to listen closely to him.

It sounds like whether Christ Church will stay in The Episcopal Church, even under orthodox Bishop Lillibridge, is an open question.