The Church of the Apostles, Coppell

Members and Friends of the Church of the Apostles:

Diocesan Convention is now over, but not its aftermath. Christ Church, Plano has left the diocese. St. Matthias in North Dallas has signified its intention to leave. Three other churches have expressed a desire to follow them. The Rector of St. Nicholas in Flower Mound has resigned. All have said that they affirm the godly leadership of our bishop, but can no longer be in a position of bringing new converts into the Episcopal Church. Despite their courteous nod to Bishop Stanton, the statements are nevertheless a clear repudiation of our bishop and of the rest of us in the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas.

The diocese is poorer for their departure, but so in fact are the departing parishes. When you leave under the current conditions you take negativity and divisiveness with you into the next stage of ministry. Churches that leave the diocese under these conditions are established, at least partly, on the basis of being against something. It takes generations to recover from such a church start, and for years to come they will bring their new converts into fellowships branded by negativity.

The Anglican Communion is in the throes of a New Anglican Reformation. The Archbishop of Canterbury has proposed a covenant relationship that will enable Anglicans everywhere to understand and affirm their common identity. It is entirely within the realm of possibility that a small minority within the Anglican Communion may not affirm that covenant. Included in that small minority are the current leadership of The Episcopal Church and many of the dioceses in the United States. We are faced with the peculiar spectacle of part of The Episcopal Church no longer being in communion with Canterbury and at the same time defining itself, in its Constitution and Canons, as a church in communion with Canterbury. The rest of us will not leave the Anglican Communion, but we will remain firm. In doing so we will continue to be faithful to the ongoing tradition of the Episcopal Church, to its Constitution and Canons, and to The Book of Common Prayer.

What effect will that have on the Church of the Apostles? From a Church Growth perspective, very little indeed. While a few keep up with current events and we occasionally hear from them, the majority of unchurched people whom we wish to reach are to a surprising degree uninformed and unconcerned about the actions of the leadership of The Episcopal Church. We may be momentarily embarrassed, but they could care less. What they care about has nothing to do with Episcopal current events. They want to know if we will reach out to them with a realistic faith marked by compassion and action. Their question is not will they accept us, but will we accept them? In a way, because of our own continuing public embarrassment, we are more likely to reach out to them with humility and love. Humility, borne out of self-understanding is a necessary prerequisite for effective evangelism. Rather than turning inward, the gospel call is to turn outward. What Jesus said, was “Go!”, “Go, and make disciples!” For that reason we will be during this coming year participating in several concrete programs for Church Growth. This is not primarily growth for numbers, but growth for love. There are many in our community who desperately need to be touched by the love of God, incarnate in our own practical love, outreach and invitation, and I believe that as a congregation we are uniquely placed to reach them.

Faithfully,

The Rev. Dr. Rob Smith +

“The Scriptures are God’s Voice, The Church is his Echo” ~ John Donne, 17th Century