from Stand Firm:
[Received via email from Theron Walker and posted with permission]
A New Anglican Church in Front Range Colorado
Emmaus Anglican Church, Castle Rock
For the past four years, a small country parish west of Castle Rock, Colorado, in Sedalia has been working to offer more to the growing community, especially to build a larger facility for worship. Due to a whole set of local dynamics, complicated by the continuing drama of The Episcopal Church’s trajectory out of the via media of historic Christianity, a group, including the rector, left the comfort of the quaint chapel, 140 years of tradition in Sedalia, to move into town, and, through faith and sacrifice, plant an Anglican congregation in Castle Rock.
So, the door to building a future shut for this orthodox Anglican, and the prospects are just getting fewer and fewer. Why not, suggested a few of the lay people, wipe the dust off our feet, and start over? And if we’re going to start over, why carry the dead weight of the Episcopal Church? I found the argument frightening, and convincing.
It’s really too early to speak of Emmaus as a church. This is the gestation period of a church. Fifty-six souls, from age one to age eighty-three met for worship on Sunday, February 6th at 10:00. The church is meeting in a converted bowling alley, sharing a roof with a Steakhouse and a gymnastics school.
We are working with the Anglican Church of North America, the Diocese of the Holy Spirit, with bishop +John Guernsey. Fortunately, the Lord has blessed us with an amazing group of founders—people who can tackle the ins and outs of a “start up.” But more importantly, people with a passion to fulfill the Great Commission—to go and tell the world about Jesus! We have work to do!
Emmaus Anglican will be evangelical: We believe God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, Jesus Christ, for everyone. We believe that the Holy Scriptures, Old and New Testaments contain all things necessary for salvation.
Emmaus Anglican will be catholic: We believe God, in his love and mercy, has always been present in the church. We believe in the ancient rule of faith given to us in the Nicene and Apostles’ Creeds, and in the ancient rule of worship, given to us in the English tradition through the Book of Common Prayer.
Emmaus Anglican will be charismatic: We believe God the Holy Spirit is the breath of life, and is especially known in the body of the faithful. The Holy Spirit is God-with-us today, to heal, liberate, transform, and empower anyone who calls on the name of Jesus.
Why the Diocese of the Holy Spirit? Relationships! Communion is always about relationships. I met the Rev. John Guernsey through a fellow seminarian who served at All Saints (Guernsey’s parish in Northern Virginia). Recently, a priest-friend, Fr. Jim Pauls, a fellow member of a clergy accountability group, left the Episcopal Church and affiliated with the Diocese of the Holy Spirit. His connection led to this one. Bishop +John is amazingly responsive, thoughtful, and prayerful.
Inevitably, questions always come up about the Episcopal Diocese, and the bishop (Robert O’Neill). Bishop O’Neill always treated St. Philip’s in Sedalia, a basically conservative group, with respect and grace. His office has given support and guidance to a parish in which many members restrict their giving. Bishop O’Neill and I had a seventy-minute conversation characterized by mutual respect and sadness at the divisions in the body of Christ. Issues around a priest leaving TEC are always tense because there is no mechanism to transfer from TEC into the jurisdiction ACNA.
Of course, there are always questions about what will be left behind. The people starting Emmaus were leaders in the Episcopal congregation, and have worked tirelessly to leave things in as good as condition as possible, especially the financial records. Emmaus begins with no things, but with people of faith, hope, and love: a true cathedral of the risen Lord!
The days ahead for Emmaus are full of holy opportunities—developing liturgies that bring together folks who have worshipped with the 1928 Book, and 1979 Rite 2 folks. Music has to be built from the ground up—we’re hoping to be truly eclectic (calling out for a keyboard player and instrumentalists). Mostly, it’s a grand opportunity for folks to give their gifts to an empty canvass, to see what work of beauty the Holy Spirit will paint in Castle Rock.
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