Saturday, February 20, 2010

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA: Episcopal Diocese Hijacks "Conscience" Funds for Dominican Republic

Money Sent To National Episcopal Church in New York City

By David W. Virtue
www.virtueonline.org
2/17/2010

More than $30,000 "conscience money", set aside by Evangelicals and Anglo-Catholics in the Diocese of Southwest Florida and earmarked for the Dominican Republic, was sent to National Church headquarters in New York City, violating a long held agreement with orthodox Episcopalians in the diocese going back to Bishop John Lipscomb.

In 2003, then Bishop Lipscomb promised to protect Evangelicals and Anglo-Catholics in the diocese, giving them his word that money from parishes that conscientiously objected to the national church's stand on faith and morals would be honored and their funds diverted to their sister Diocese of the Dominican Republic (DR).

"Bishop Lipscomb gave us his word that he would protect nearly 1000 parishioners, mainly Anglo-Catholics in 14 separate parishes in the diocese who signed a 'green card' given by him to orthodox members guaranteeing that their money went to the Dominican Republic," said Jan Spangler, an activist laywoman and a member of the Diocesan Standing Committee. She is a member of Church of the Redeemer in Sarasota.

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