By David W. Virtue
www.virtueonline.org
April 7, 2010
The first parish from the Diocese of Oregon, St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, is leaving the Episcopal Church and transferring its membership to the newly formed Anglican Church in North America.
The Rev. David L. Humphrey said that after a long process of discernment involving Bible study, discussion and prayer, a hundred adult members of St. Matthew's, including the rector and every member of the Vestry, decided to transfer their membership to a new parish: St. Matthew's Anglican Church, Portland, which will be part of the Anglican Church in North America.
"This decision has been taken after several years of deep concern regarding the Episcopal Church's theology, Christology and interpretation of Scripture," said Humphrey.
St. Matthew's is a solidly evangelical congregation. The church building and assets of St. Matthew's Episcopal Church will continue to belong to those in the parish who have decided to remain Episcopalians.
St. Matthew's is in discussion with the Diocese of Oregon concerning a mutually satisfactory and orderly transition. The Diocese and the parish share the objective that this process will be respectful and cordial according to Humphrey.
On Sunday, May 2, St. Matthew's Anglican Church will begin morning worship services at a new, but as yet unnamed location. "The church's goal will be to know Christ and to make him known, through expository Bible teaching, liturgical worship and prayer, with a commitment to discipleship, evangelism, mission and fellowship," said Humphrey.
An estimated 20 parishioners of the 125 are thought to be staying with the parish. Oregon Bishop elect Michael Joseph Hanley will be consecrated April 10th. In an e-mail to VOL, a spokesman for the bishop said, "Bishop-elect Hanley is not currently available for comment."
An insider told VOL that the departure of St. Matthews in Portland will steal some of his thunder. The Chief Consecrator is Presiding Bishop Katherine Jefferts Schori.
In November of 2009, a cradle Episcopalian and parishioner at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church in Portland found herself mocked and ridiculed for reading a portion of Scripture, relating to the qualifications for bishop, on the eve of electing a new diocesan bishop.
Margaret Enriques was invited by her rector, the Rev. David L. Humphrey, to read 1 Timothy 3:1-7 (NRSV), a passage relating to the qualifications for bishop. She agreed. During the Opening Eucharist, she approached the lectern, announced the Lesson and began to read. When the second sentence was read, people began to laugh. Soon the sound of laughter became so great that she stopped and waited until it died down. Then she continued, but soon the laughter returned and grew so loud that she had to stop again and wait until she could be heard. Finally, she finished the reading.
On this occasion, Bishop Jerry Lamb was present. "The laughter began when I started to read 'a bishop should not be a lover of money' and again later during the reading," she told VOL. A few minutes later, in the introduction to his sermon, the Rt. Rev. Jerry Lamb (appointed in 2008 to administer the so-called Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin) joked, "I'd like to have a word with whoever it was who picked those readings."
The bishop did not make good his threat, Enriques told VOL. Asked about her ordeal, Enriques said she was shocked and deeply saddened by what had happened, but it was not enough to make her leave The Episcopal Church.
The actions of Bishop Lamb, the retired Bishop of Northern California, and delegates to the convention signaled a new low in The Episcopal Church. The diocese elected a new bishop in the person of the Rev. Michael Joseph Hanley. He was elected on the second ballot to be the 10th bishop of Oregon.
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