Diocesan News
St. Christopher's, Spartanburg, marks new beginning on Pentecost
Bishop Henderson joins congregation in wake of rector's resignation, church split
Click here to read "Standing in the breach," one Upper South
Carolinian's reflection on the day at St. Chris
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See the
Pentecost
photo gallery
here. |
Pentecost Sunday at St. Christopher's, Spartanburg, was a watershed event in the life of the nearly 50-year-old congregation. The week prior to the feast saw the resignation of the rector, the Rev. George N. Gray, and an unhappy series of events that his resignation set in motion, but on Pentecost the people of St. Christopher's joined Bishop Henderson and Episcopalians from all over the diocese to regroup, pray, celebrate, and affirm their commitment to the future of the congregation. An outward and visible sign of their dedication to healing and renewal was the Pentecost plate: $9,183.24 offered to continue the journey in the spirit of mission and discipleship.
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"God will go with those who have left, and God
will remain with those who stay." |
On May 6 Bishop Henderson learned that Fr. Gray had resigned his
position, stating in a letter to parishioners that he could "no
longer remain grounded in TEC [The Episcopal Church]." A
majority of St. Christopher's vestry also resigned. On May 7 the
Diocesan Executive Council and Standing Committee met in
emergency session and approved Bishop Henderson's request that
St. Christopher's be returned to mission status and that he be
authorized to inhibit Fr. Gray for abandonment of of the
Communion of the Church. The Rev. Canon Michael A. Bullock, Bishop Henderson's
canon to the ordinary, was named priest in charge at St.
Christopher's, and a new congregational mission team was put in
place.
| "Pentecost Sunday, what a great day! It was so
uplifting to hear a message of hope and to see
people smiling and happy. I felt the presence of God
. . . and thank you for the hope you have given
us." —St. Christopher's parishioner |
In a May 7 letter reporting the inhibition of Fr. Gray, Bishop Henderson explained that Fr. Gray, "effective immediately," is "suspended from active ministry in this Church." According to the terms of the inhibition, if Fr. Gray reverses his decision to leave The Episcopal Church within six months, the inhibition would be lifted. Failing that reversal, at the conclusion of the six-month period, Bishop Henderson would either depose him or release him from his obligations and duties as a priest of the Church. Posted on the diocesan Web site are primary documents concerning events at St. Christopher's, as well as regular updates, as available.
| "The new [leadership] group assembled is a
wonderful and powerfully faithful one. They will do
well and they will have much help." —St. Christopher's parishioner |
In response to the situation at St. Christopher's, Bishop Henderson
reconfigured his visitation schedule in order to celebrate
Pentecost there. In announcing his desire to spend
Pentecost at St. Christopher’s, the bishop said:
“Pentecost Sunday is known informally as the ‘birthday of
the Church,’ when we celebrate the presence and power of the
Holy Spirit, and the gifts which each one of us has been
given for Christian living and witness. Let us gather to
pray for a joyful renewal of life within us all—a rebirth of
the family which is St. Christopher’s—and, to be sure, with
fond remembrance of and thankfulness for all who have
contributed to the life and witness at St. Christopher’s—for
all who worship and labor there now—and for the many who
will follow us in worship, labor and witness.”
Please keep the people of St. Christopher's—past and present—in your prayers.
Standing in the Breach—St. Christopher's, Spartanburg
Easy ways to show your support
By Sarah Montgomery, St. John's, Columbia
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See the
Pentecost
photo gallery
here. |
St. Christopher's,
Spartanburg, has suffered a great blow this week with
the resignation of the rector and a large portion of the
vestry and congregation who feel they can no longer
continue to serve God as part of the Episcopal Church.
A remnant, who feels equally called of God to remain
within the communion of the broader Church, wishes to
rebuild. As our bishop has wisely said, "God will go
with those who have left, and God will remain with those
who stay."
As vice-chancellor of the diocese, I have visited St.
Christopher's twice this week, on Wednesday and on Sunday,
to show support and love toward the staff and remaining
members, and also to discern how we as the larger Church
might respond. Clearly, we are called to pray for those
who have left as well as those who remain. Those
remaining, however, are part of the larger body of
Christ in the Diocese of Upper South Carolina,
for whom we have great responsibility.
In Nehemiah chapter 4, we hear about how the people of God
rallied to rebuild the breached and failed walls that
once protected Jerusalem. As they rebuilt, they stood
side-by-side in the breaches. Similarly, the New
Testament teaches us "to bear one another's burdens and
so fulfill the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:2). It is my
hope that you will make time during these next few
critical weeks for St. Christopher's to pray about how
you might respond to their need. I would encourage you
and your family to make the trip to
worship at St. Christopher's this month to show them
that they are not alone and to let them know that you care.
[Sunday services are 8 and 11 am].
Perhaps you are a
member of a group that would make a pilgrimage in show
of support (vestry, committees, youth groups, seniors and
other social groups, men
of the church, altar/flower guild)? Perhaps you have
contacts across the diocese that might offer broader
support (Convocations, ECW, Commissions)? It struck me
this Sunday morning (Pentecost) that Christ's promise to
send the Comforter (the one who comes alongside) also
involves Christ's followers, who respond to that great
gift of the Spirit, by standing with their brothers and
sisters in the breach as they (indeed, we) rebuild.
Yours in Christ,
Sarah Montgomery
[Return to the main story above.]
The 86th Diocesan Convention
Business - Celebration - Leadership
October 17 - 18, 2008
The Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center and the adjacent Hilton Hotel will serve as our site for the two days of Mission and Ministry.
Friday, October 17th will be focused on the business of the Diocese. Elections, the Statement of Mission (SOM), possible resolutions and changes to the Constitution and Canons will be the order of the day. In the evening there will be a grand celebration, complete with the Bishop's Awards recognizing Upper South Carolinians who have made extraordinary contributions to the life and ministry of our diocese.
who should attend? |
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On Saturday, October 18th, the Bishop invites all those in various leadership areas of our congregations to come and be energized, empowered, and focused to take on the his "four goals for a seamelss transition". This will be a time to come together for worship, to share stories of mission and ministry, and learn how each one of our congregations can move forward. Weaving the Story we all share and the stories of our faith communities will be the Rt. Rev. Charles F. Duvall . Throughout the day he will inspire and challenge us to enter into the story, so that in our leaving we will share it with others.
Make plans NOW to attend these exciting events! Hotel rooms are going fast! October 17-18 is also weekend of the South Carolina–LSU football game, at home in Columbia. Three hotels have blocked rooms for Diocesan Convention: Hampton Inn, Rodeway Inn, and Comfort Suites. Although there is no diocesan block of rooms, reservations may also be made at the Hilton Hotel. Full info on making reservations can be downloaded here. Please pay close attention to release and cancellation dates when making your reservations.Keep your eyes on the Millennium Development Goals
GIVE IT 4
GOOD—Using your "economic
stimulus check" to work toward the
Millennium
Development Goals.
Learn all about this initiative at the
Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation Web site.
And then surf on over to
millenniumcongregation.org, whose mission is "to
develop a network of congregations supporting the end of
extreme poverty through Millennium Villages as we promote
justice, compassion, and reconciliation."
Read more about the Millennium Congregation Campaign.
We CAN make extreme
global poverty history by 2015!