Faithfulness Vindicated

TEXAS: Christ Church Midland to inhabit new church two years after break with Episcopal church

by Jennifer Edwards
Midland Reporter-Telegram
http://tinyurl.com/3xwxp8
3/24/2007

An Episcopalian congregation kicked out of its home church because of its protests against openly gay bishops and the blessing of gay marriages will soon have a brand-new home with a kneeling touch.

The congregation of Christ Church Midland, formerly of St. Nicholas' Episcopal Church, is hoping to soon celebrate its first service at a brand-new church on the corner of Midkiff Road and Mockingbird Lane. The final touch -- custom-designed needlepoint kneelers -- won't be in place yet, but the church will be ready for the bishop's blessing the day before services.

"The plan is that the church will be ready by late summer," said Nancy Shaw, a congregation member.

The Rev. Jon Stasney, church rector, agreed, setting June 17 as the date for the first service.

"We're a little bit later than we anticipated," he said. However, "the property is twice what we had before -- (it is) 16.8 acres." The property also will feature more classrooms, which Stasney said was the church's "greatest need."

Construction on the new church cost about the same as construction of St. Nicholas', which was just four years old when Bishop Wallis Ohl ordered dissenting members to leave by June 1, 2005. At that time, the congregation was almost finished paying off the construction and was already planning an addition, Stasney said.

Though some of the congregation stayed behind at St. Nicholas', Stasney said Christ Church Midland has recouped and slightly increased its membership since cutting ties with the Northwest Texas Diocese and then joining up with the Diocese of Mityana in Uganda.

"We grew first by just replacing the (number) we lost -- about 11 percent that didn't move with us," he said. "We have grown other ways in terms of operating budget as well, from a little over $500,000 to $800,000 (annually)."

The budget had been a sticking point before the move, as donations to the church declined after the Episcopal Church U.S.A. ordained an openly gay bishop and blessed same-sex marriages, according to Reporter-Telegram reports.

Since leaving, donations recovered then increased, Stasney said.

"So far, we haven't had to draw on our loan to pay on our building cost because the pledges are coming in ahead of time," he said. "It's pretty phenomenal. It is a wonderful congregation, and you can tell the level of commitment is pretty high."

While members are giving of their money, others are giving of their time. For instance, one group has already committed to the numerous hours it will take to hand-stitch the kneelers Atlanta artist Nancy Keating is custom-designing. Keating, who has designed kneelers for several churches in Georgia and one in Corpus Christi, said the theme will be the life of Christ. Specifically, they'll focus on Jesus' role as a healer.

"These should last a lot longer than us," she said during a recent visit to Midland. "We should use the best of everything."

The stitching will be of Persian wool, which Keating assured is "very, very durable."

They will be placed around the altar, said Shaw, who co-chairs the needlepoint committee.

"They will be completed by people at Christ Church. We have a number of ladies who have been working to learn needlepoint since last summer," she said. "We have been amazed at the interest."

Because the artist has visited the church and will stay in contact, the designs she creates will be "one-of-a-kind" and personal, Shaw said.

It could take as long as a year to finish the kneelers, but the new church won't lack for decoration.

The congregation also will place a big bronze of St. Nicholas, designed by Stan Jacobs, in the center of the columbium (where the ashes of church members are interred.

Though the kneelers won't be in place for move-in time, members likely will breathe a sigh of relief that they now have a permanent church. Since they left St. Nicholas', the congregation has endured a lot of moving, lifting and shifting, Stasney said.

"They set up the church every Saturday and take it down every Sunday" at Midland Classical Academy, he said. Member Steve Clarke even built a portable altar, while St. Stephen's Catholic Church lent a big wooden cross and some chairs. Other churches, including True-Lite Christian Fellowship and Mid-Cities Community Church, also have helped by offering Ash Wednesday and holy week services, office space and room to perform weddings and funerals.

"We have had wonderful support from the larger church of Midland," Stasney said. "It is great."

However, "... the work is not over," he said. "It's not a resting place along the way, so much as one more base to do ministry from. And it continues to grow from there."

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