Stand and Go

I commend you, members of St. Paul’s, for your strong stand and your commitment to go forward in following the Lord, going only in the direction He leads you to go.

No one can question the commitments this parish has made over the years.  You have absolute loyalty to God the Father through His Son Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church, in the power of the Holy Spirit.  You are living out your mission “to know Christ and to make Him known”.  Your belief in the Bible as God’s infallible Word is the expression of your desire to obey the Lord whom you love.  Your fellowship in the Gospel creates a loving parish where joy in worship leads to healing and mission to the world.  You go forward as the Lord directs your lay and clergy leaders.

Yet there are places where your stand for Christ will not allow you to go.  You will not tolerate teaching which goes against the Lord and His Word.  There is much in The Episcopal Church with which you disagree.

I have been asked about the recent overtures by the Vatican to incorporate disgruntled Anglicans into the Roman Catholic Church.  Some people have received this invitation by Pope Benedict XVI to be good news.  The Pope’s offer shows just how deep the crisis in Anglicanism is.  Yet I believe the views of St. Paul’s will clash with such teaching as papal infallibility, the sacrifice of the Mass, the authority of the tradition of the church, the ministry of the clergy and laity, and the current views about the Virgin Mary.  There are probably additional disagreements with Rome.  I don’t see us going there.

Where are we going?  We are keeping our feet under us as we stand for God’s Word.  We are keeping our eyes on Christ as He leads us.  We are clasping one another’s hands as we are strengthened by the Holy Spirit.  God shows us the way one step at a time.  You are moving forward, St. Paul’s, and I commend you!

 

Love in Christ,

Christopher

The Rev. Christopher P. Leighton

Rector