Standing firm on church schism

For many, like St. James Church parishioner Galen Yorba-Gray, the

Episcopal Church has strayed from what Yorba-Gray said are key tenets

of religious faith: belief in the supremacy of biblical scripture and

Jesus Christ.

That’s why he has stood firmly behind his Newport Beach church and

its pastor, Praveen Bunyan, as the church, with its 1,200 members,

has broken away from the Episcopal Diocese and taken shelter under

the Diocese of Luwero in the Anglican Province of Uganda, Africa. Two

others, All Saints’ in Long Beach and St. David’s in North Hollywood,

have also seceded, citing the Episcopal Church’s liberal views on

homosexuality, the divinity of Christ and the supremacy of the Bible.

In a nutshell, the Episcopal Church has simply lost its way on a

path to salvation, St. James leaders say, and people such as

Yorba-Gray didn’t like the direction. In a vote, 280 St. James

members opted to break away, with 12 dissenters wanting to remain

with the Episcopal diocese.

Yorba-Gray, a parishioner at St. James for four years, sees the

break last month as a glitch in his church’s path, but one that has

bolstered a sense of religious mission.

Before things settle down, congregants will have to get through

what will likely be a high-profile legal battle over the rights to

the St. James property. Church leaders have already been fired by

incredulous Episcopal diocese leaders, who have sent minions to the

break-away areas with hopes of setting up new ministries and drawing

in those St. James parishioners who disagree with the secession.

A diocese lawsuit filed Tuesday alleges that St. James clergy and

the board of directors are guilty of breaching their trustee duties

and refusing to leave the property owned by Episcopalians.

Meanwhile, Yorba-Gray stands firmly with his church.

In the midst of growing legal and philosophical tumult, Yorba-Gray

agreed to answer some questions from the Pilot’s Ryan Carter.

How has St. James’ break from the diocese affected you and your

own relationship with St. James, and even your own faith? Has it

reinforced or challenged your religious beliefs?

The break was necessary, but the political fallout is distracting

from the work of compassionate ministry we are called to do. My

relationship with St. James continues as before, but perhaps with

more resolve and a clearer sense of our mission. It hasn’t affected

my faith per se, but it does cause me to grieve for the Episcopal

Church.

Why is this secession significant?

Parting ways with family and friends is always difficult, but

Episcopal Church USA’s drift into cultural accommodation has broken

down the distinctive of the Gospel message: All are invited to come,

but come and be healed, changed and forgiven.

How has your own view of the Episcopal church changed over time?

What has turned you off about the Episcopal Church at large?

I was initially attracted to the Episcopal Church’s openness and

“inclusiveness” as coming from a place of compassion. However, this

view has come to fall short of the Gospel’s call to repentance,

redemption and transformation.

The biblical narrative of the woman at the well offers helpful

insights into Jesus’ notion of inclusively. He welcomes a person who

was, in effect, triple-marginalized then: She was first of all a

woman, then Samaritan woman, then an immoral Samaritan woman to boot.

Jesus accepted her, listened to her pain, offered her spiritual

help and then held her accountable for change.

Episcopal Church USA has done a pretty good job of calling people

to help others, but hasn’t followed through as well on matters of

spiritual and moral accountability.

We view these as essentials if the Gospel is to remain a unique

and authentic call to a restored humanity.

The men hiding in the shadows of the Samaritan lady’s past also

needed to step forward and stop using people, living a double

standard, and accept the heart change that Jesus offered to her.

From what I understand -- and please correct me if I’m wrong --

St. James sees biblical scripture and an acceptance of Jesus as Lord

and savior as the one true way to salvation. Do you agree?

Yes, there are many bridges that try to cross the chasm of our

alienation from God -- some fine bridges as far as they go -- but

Christ is the completed bridge from God’s perspective.

How would you answer those who have questioned such a focused

belief?

God offered Christ to the world as an absolute response to our

brokenness. Relativistic philosophies similar to postmodern thought

have always been around.

Have you talked about the church’s situation with other

parishioners? Do they agree with you and Pastor Praveen Bunyan’s

stance?

Naturally we talk about it, and yes, we support him 100%.

What’s a Sunday service like now? Is there a sense that a shift

has happened? Is there relief, given that there is a more concrete

belief in Jesus Christ as the savior?

There is surely relief on the one hand, but Jesus has always been

real and “concrete” for us at St. James, as is our commitment to the

scriptures as the maximum authority for doctrine and practice. On the

other hand, we all await the settling down and hopefully, the

peaceful godly resolution of the legal questions that remain.

What do you think of this idea of Bishop J. Jon Bruno of the Los

Angeles Diocese sending priests to breakaway areas such as Newport

Beach to set up new ministries and minister to those who don’t want

to stay at the churches?

I think he is talking about an extremely small group of people who

would be equally at home in area Episcopal churches, but we bless

those who differ, and pray for their continued spiritual care.