St. James secession emotional

The question you ask readers about the bishop firing the priests

brings to mind the familiar response in comedy sketches: You can’t

fire me, I quit. But that doesn’t approximate what happened with the

priests at the formerly Episcopal churches in the Los Angeles diocese

and ignores what has been previously explained to your reporters and

written about in your paper.

That’s because the three churches haven’t quit anything as far as

Anglican orthodoxy is concerned. They have repeatedly said that it is

the U.S. synod -- the Episcopal Church and its L.A. diocese -- that

has in its official actions turned its back on Scripture and those

parishioners and clergy who hold to First Principles. One has to ask

the simple question: Why, if Bishop J. Jon Bruno believes what he

wrote in his letter to the churches, is he the bishop of a diocese

that says it is Christian? This is the world in which orthodox

Christians have been living as they endure a confused leadership in

the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles; and why, at the three churches

that are now under the oversight of the Anglican bishop of Luwero,

they now greet parishioners with a smile and hearty “Welcome to

Uganda -- Come, Enter the Lord’s House.”

And be quite sure, there is no confusion there. They know the Lord

is Jesus Christ.

KEN LARSON

Newport Beach

I applaud Bishop J. Jon Bruno’s courageous stand in firing the

clergy and vestries of his three errant parishes. I hope only that

the parishioners there learn some much-needed lessons about the real

meaning of Christianity.

These parishes have strayed from the roots of the church by

defining themselves to be exclusive membership clubs instead of

inclusive, as the teachings of the New Testament would have us be.

The Bible is a document subject to constantly evolving

interpretation. Were it not, many of us should be stoned to death for

eating shellfish or pork.

BURT HERMEY

Costa Mesa

I do not believe Bishop J. Jon Bruno should have fired St. James

church leaders. They are obeying God’s word.

That is what they are called to do. God will bless them for their

obedience. Churches that obey the whole Bible are growing. Churches

that cut out the parts that are not “politically correct” are dying.

KATHY ABBOT

Newport Beach

I don’t think the diocese has a right to be able to do that, being

that it looks like those churches have broken away from what I

believe to be an immoral diocese. I am a Christian, not in the

Episcopal nor the Catholic church, but I do believe the Episcopal

Church has gone in the wrong direction.

JOHN RICE

Costa Mesa

I prefer to paraphrase, “Do you think the bishop of the diocese

has the responsibility to keep Episcopal parishes within the

diocese?”

We feel it is Bishop J. Jon Bruno’s duty to use ecclesiastical and

civil measures including continued reconciliation and negotiation to

unite Episcopalians. To my understanding, the percentage used to

substantiate the “majority” St. James parishioner vote to secede is

based on the vote of about 292 parishioners in attendance at the

meeting, not the 1,200 membership minus youth. As members of St.

James, we were telephoned to attend this meeting, but when asked, the

caller would not disclose the subject. I am aware of no attempt to

ballot all parishioners prior to this meeting. Perhaps a majority

vote to secede would have been the end result, but then we will never

know, will we?

Though unable to attend services for a few years due to a health

issue, my husband and I worship as Episcopalians whose Episcopal

theology has a proud history of honoring diversity, inclusiveness,

acceptance of Christ, tolerance, respect for all faiths and the

flexibility to coexist with a variety of biblical interpretations. We

supported Bishop Bruno’s vote, along with 60% of all bishops, to

ordain Bishop Gene Robinson, and we also value the inclusive

acceptance of homosexuals.

We find it heartbreaking that St. James cannot find prayerful

reconciliation and remain within the Episcopal fold. We, however, are

not Anglicans; we are Episcopalians who have contributed spiritually

and financially for three generations to St. James. Is it not a

dichotomy that the Daily Pilot’s quote of former Bishop Maurice

Benitez’s Sunday prayer at St. James was for comfort for those who

feel abandoned by the Episcopal Church?

News flash: Perhaps we feel abandoned by St. James’ “Anglicans!”

CECILIA AND OLIVER CRARY

Newport Beach