Anglican Bishop Minns tells Lutherans to leave

By Julia Duin on Sept. 25, 2009 into Belief Blog (of the Washington Times):


I was just about to go to bed at 1 a.m. today when I saw that the Convocation of Anglicans in North America (CANA) - one of several groups representing the 100,000 or so Episcopalians who have left their denomination for more conservative climes - has posted a video for the benefit of a this weekend's Lutheran CORE meeting near Indianapolis.

Lutheran CORE has drawn 1,200+ folks to a meeting to discuss what future - if any - conservatives have in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America now that that the denomination has OK'd gay clergy as of last month. The CORE folks have given every indication they're heading out the door to form a new group or join with other dissident Lutheran groups.

And CANA is encouraging them to move out, according to a short video posted on YouTube. CANA's lead bishop, Martyn Minns, until recently the rector of Truro Church in Fairfax, Va., shows up in somewhat informal garb with a number of icons and religious paintings behind him. Am not sure the reason for the rodeo music accompaniment but sure enough, the bishop tells Lutherans that "We know the pain; we've been there" in reference to how his parish and 14 other churches left the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia from 2005-2007 - and the ensuing lawsuit that occurred when they tried to take their property with them. (They won the suit on the local level but it is on appeal).

"We know the joy and freedom that came when we move away from a church that has frankly lost its way," the bishop said. "You're not alone..."