The Diocesan Dialogue
Current Issue
February 2007

Richard's Poor Almanac

By Dick Snyder

It occurs to me that in reading about reports of "schism" in the church we can sometimes lose sight of the amount of personal pain and loss can be felt by individuals in those dioceses which are considering pulling out of the Episcopal Church.

It would be easy to assume from press reports that when a diocese considers leaving the church that decision is a unanimous one, or least widely supported.

One of those dioceses is San Joaquin, which is actually my home diocese. I was raised in that diocese and confirmed in the diocese. My mother still resides and worships in that diocese.

And I have had the privilege of meeting many Episcopalians in that diocese who have felt frustrated by actions by the diocesan leadership there.

Following is part of a letter that I received at Christmas time from a friend in that diocese. I print part of it here, with permission, so that members of this diocese might have a sense of what Episcopalians in other dioceses are experiencing.

The letter was addressed to the clergy, wardens and vestry at St. Columba’s Church in Fresno.

"Having been active members of St. Columba’s and ‘members of good standing’ for the past 36 years, it is with heartfelt regret and sadness that we feel we must sever our membership with this parish.

"Both of us have been members of the vestry—Diana on altar guild and past president of Episcopal Church Women, Bob as Lay Minister; our children have been married here and a grandchild baptized.

"Our decision to leave has not been an easy one; however, we wish to remain with the Episcopal Church and under the jurisdiction of our national church and our Presiding Bishop, Katharine Jefferts Schori.

"We deplore the decision of our parish convention delegates (except for one) to vote that we leave the Episcopal Church - that without any prior open discussion of such a vote with parish members.

"We do not support that decision for two primary reasons: it is illegal under the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church, and because it closes the door to reconciliation.

"In one fell swoop the convention vote, in our opinion, has fractured the diocese, fostered division within this parish, and will undoubtedly result in the wasteful expenditure of untold amounts of time, energy and resources in the schismatic process that has been unleashed.

"We pray that by God’s grace unity may yet be restored to the Church."

May we all pray for that grace. Amen

Richard’s Poor Almanac is an occasional column written by the editor.

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