Per Christum Catholic Blog

In July 2003, I was preparing to enter seminary to study for the Episcopal priesthood. That same summer, the Episcopal diocese of New Hampshire elected a man in an openly gay relationship, Gene Robinson, as bishop. I knew the sparks were going to fly at General Convention a few months later, since the convention had to approve the election. As a “closet conservative,” I was bothered by this, quietly mind you, for fear of getting kicked out of the postulancy process. I was baffled by the lack of concern about Robinson’s consecration at my local seminary, and in the wider Episcopal church. I eventually came to the conclusion that the Episcopal church really was Protestant, and willing to “go it alone” for the sake of its own view of “social justice” (heck, the word “Protestant” was in the official name of the Episcopal church up until a few years ago…that should have been a clue). So I decided to attend local American Anglican Council gatherings, banding together with a few other traditional-minded Episcopalians in the Southern Ohio area. I made quite a few friends during this time. However, in 2004, after concluding that the “Network” of conservative Anglicans was more talk than action, more process than result, I finally became open to the Catholic Church, and became Catholic in August of 2004. Almost five years later, it is interesting to see where everybody in our original group of orthodox Southern Ohio Episcopalians has ended up

[Note: this list is not meant to be comprehensive of all Southern Ohio conservative Episcopalians. However, this covers many of the people on a Southern Ohio AAC priests, seminarians, etc, email list I used to belong to, and includes those I knew at least somewhat personally. Those that I had never met or whose whereabouts I am unsure of, I didn't mention].

- One priest, Fr. David, the smartest of all of us, and a reader of this blog, is still an Episcopal priest in Southern Ohio faithfully doing God’s work under the radar. At Fr. David’s initiation, a few of us entered into some internet discussion with progressives in the diocese, to see if we could find some “common ground.” Sadly, this endeavor showed us that progressives and conservatives in the diocese truly were fundamentally opposed to one another on a variety of issues. Should we meet for someone Speedway coffee soon, Father?

- One of the group’s organizers left his local Episcopal parish in 2004, and now works with an Anglican group that meets (or at least used to) at a Reformed Episcopal parish. He still seems to be involved in the Southern Ohio American Anglican Council. Andy’s former parish, once pretty conservative, now goes out of its way to emphasize how “inclusive” it is, and how the congregation has transformed itself in the last few years to become more diverse (a buzzword-rich way of saying they don’t think homosexual sex is a sin anymore)…which is what happens I guess when a good chunk of conservatives leaves a parish.

- A former priest (and friend) of mine now pastors an Anglican parish (with the AMIA I think) a few blocks down from the old parish I once attended. I notice the former parish has declined in numbers quite a bit, down to about 20-30 on a given Sunday. I decided to become Catholic around the time this local church split. I believe Fr. Rick and his congregation are meeting in what is (was?) a Christian coffeehouse.

- Another friend, and former priest, at an Episcopal church in London, Ohio, became Catholic around the time I did, and his wife (also an Episcopal priest at the time) eventually joined him, obviously giving up any possibility of her being ordained in the Catholic Church. Rick is now studying for his PhD at a Catholic University. Interestingly, he started out pretty “progressive,” but after immersing himself in Scripture and the Church Fathers, came to a more traditional view of sexuality. Rick, Fr. David, Jonathan, and I were on the Theological Commission of the Southern Ohio American Anglican Council (it sounds more official than it was; it was mostly all of us getting together for some coffee and good discussion).

- Early in the controversy, a deacon in the Southern Ohio diocese left and joined the Vineyard. At this time I cannot recall her name.

- I am not sure what became of Deacon Will. Last I knew he was considering more evangelical options, if he ever decided to leave the Episcopal church.

- I haven’t heard from John for awhile. During his transitional diaconate he was functioning in the same parish that was sponsoring me for postulancy. He left the Episcopal church for Rome, I think just before I did, but I can’t recall exactly. He is currently studying for ordination under the pastoral provision. I asked my current bishop, Bishop Campbell about John a few months ago, and he responded, “he is still in the process.” I found a link to a letter John had written to his Episcopal parish right before he became Catholic.

- One priest, a lady with what is typically a man’s name, left the Episcopal church for what I believe was a Baptist or maybe even charismatic church.

- Fr. Ron, another member of our group, seems to be in the midst of some controversy right now. As he and his situation have been mentioned on Stand Firm, I don’t have a problem mentioning his parish. It is interesting right now, because Saint Matthew’s Anglican and Saint Matthew’s Episcopal both have websites, and both claim the same address. Apparently, the Episcopal loyalists get the Saint Matthew’s building back on June 1 (if a bulletin text from an Episcopal parish in Oxford, Ohio is right…I worked with the rector of this parish quite extensively, and even though I now oppose women’s ordination, I recognize the good work she is doing for the Lord). The Episcopal Diocese of Southern Ohio’s website lists Fr. Ron as “temporarily inhibited.” I figured Stand Firm or Kendall Harmon would be all over this, but apparently negotiations are happening under the radar.

- Jonathan and I became Catholic in August of 2004. We both now teach at Catholic high schools and operate various Catholic websites

Why did I write this post? The other day I was thinking back to those times, and how much I was struggling with my place in the Episcopal church, and within the Church in general. I didn’t struggle alone, but with friends and companions in the fight for orthodoxy. Nonetheless, I realized that over the last (soon-to-be) 5 years, most of us have left the Episcopal church, and many of us have left Anglicanism. It is kind of depressing in a way, but I know for a fact that many of our little group that have left are happy with the decision, and those who have stayed are joyful in their calling as well. It also shows just how many self-described orthodox in Southern Ohio have left the Episcopal church; If this is happening all over the country, TEC is most certainly moving even more leftward by default.

I often think maybe we should all get together for some coffee in London, Ohio, just for old time’s sake?? We’ll just have to make sure it isn’t Speedway coffee, for Fr. David’s sake, because Speedway coffee is rank heresy.