pecusa response to Quincy parish departing for ACNA

From Episcopal News Service via Fr. Dick Kim:

QUINCY: Congregation plans gathering of Episcopalians

September 03, 2009

[Diocese of Quincy] Members of St. George's Church in Macomb, Illinois, who wish to remain Episcopalian will hold a service September 13 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Macomb.

The Rev. John Throop, former interim priest of St. George's, will lead the service and a light supper will follow in the church basement.

After St. George's parishioners voted 25-15 in March to join the Anglican Church of North America (ACNA), parishioners who wished to remain with the Episcopal Church reorganized the parish.

In May, Macomb Episcopalians held a mass celebrated by Diocese of Quincy Provisional Bishop John Buchanan, who urged the group to "live in the sunshine" as they move forward.

St. George's Protestant Episcopal Church is lead by a vestry including Tobyn Miracle, senior warden; Katharine Pawelko, junior warden; Janna Haworth, parish clerk; Lynn Thompson, treasurer; and Angela Ferree.

In formulating its mission and ministry goals, members of St. George's cite the diversity and inclusion of the Episcopal Church and also its acceptance of women priests as important factors in deciding to remain with the church. The St. George's group hopes to connect with other individuals and church groups who choose to remain in the Episcopal Diocese of Quincy.

St. George's Episcopal has also scheduled an evening prayer service for September 27, and the Rev. Judith Dalmasso will preside at Eucharist on Oct. 11. This will be the first time a woman has officiated at mass in the parish's history.

The diocese is involved in a property dispute lawsuit with former church leaders.