CHURCH CLOSING IN BINGHAMTON?

In a letter from the Wardens and Rector of Trinity Memorial Church dated April 10, the following is said:

"As was announced at the worship service on March 26, we have received a letter from the Senior Warden and Vestry of Christ Church inviting Trinity to enter into dialogue with Christ Church about consolidating both churches..."

This is astounding and certainly not welcome news. It is sad to see the oldest church in Binghamton contemplating closing up, and the question must be asked what other options are there?

Consider this: the ministry of the Rev.s Matt and Anne Kennedy has prospered in the small parish on the Southside in Binghamton, Church of the Good Shepherd. Whereas Trinity and Christ Churches have much different approaches to liturgy and other matters, Good Shepherd and Christ Church are both churches in the Anglo-Catholic tradition. Secondly, there is no reason to doubt that the growth that has happened on the Southside could not also happen downtown. Thirdly, the Church of the Good Shepherd would be a great location for social ministry, particularly since the men's shelter a few blocks from Good Shepherd closed a few years ago due to structural problems in their building.

Why wouldn't the diocese consider this? Because the Kennedys believe and teach the orthodox faith of the apostolic and catholic church. This is not the faith that is currently being taught at Christ Church, Trinity Memorial, or in most of the churches in the Diocese of Central NY. It is unfortunate to see any church closing, but it is a sign of the ministry or lack thereof that was being done under the liberal non-gospel. Still, it is sad to see.