Ironically, liberal and revisionist Episcopal dioceses are not reaping the rewards of their slavish capitulation to these behaviors. Gays and lesbians are not rushing in to fill the pews. Thousands of small parishes continue to die with the gay community blithely uninterested in all the heartfelt efforts to include them. More than a third of... Continue Reading

I am occasionally asked what has happened to properties in Northern Virginia that have been turned over to the Episcopal Church. The answer might come as a surprise. In two instances, the properties are being used, at least in part, by churches that hold a high view of scripture and teach a traditionalist interpretation of... Continue Reading

“Every woman who knows Knox and his story about the ‘monstrous regiment’ and passes his statue does give a wee wry smile on the way past. The Church has moved a tremendous amount in the last 15 years.”   He infamously dismissed a female in authority as “the monstrous regiment of women”. Now, more than... Continue Reading

The wide ranging assault on religious freedom occurring in America under the Obama Administration, and mirrored throughout the western world,currently focuses on the HHS contraceptive/abortifacient mandate, requiring religious institutions that are not houses of worship and businesses owned by objecting religious proprietors to supply goods that violate their consciences. But another area of assault, which... Continue Reading

There is no provision in TEC’s Constitution or Canons which require prior approval of a diocesan constitution or its canons. There is no express prohibition against withdrawal of a diocese. In sum, reviewing the governing documents from a secular perspective, there is no explicit or clearly delineated expression of TEC ‘s claim that the General... Continue Reading

The PC(USA) is relying on the presence of a trust clause in the congregation’s charter. However, the Church argues that such laws are not recognized under Texas law. Furthermore, the Congregation is relying on the recent Texas Court rulings that determined Congregations may split from their denominations if their incorporation by-laws allow them to do... Continue Reading

The two decisions establish “neutral principles of law” as the governing approach to church property disputes in Texas courts. (The Texas Supreme Court had last addressed the issue in 1909, seven decades before the U.S. Supreme Court authorized “neutral principles” in 1979. And under that approach, as we have seen happen time and again more... Continue Reading

“There was kind of this collective decision to forget,” Hankins said. “The question is, ‘What is our responsibility for the past?’ Sure it happened a long time ago, before we were here, but it was still hurtful and sinful. It was clearly wrong and needed to be put right.”… As they strategized over how to... Continue Reading

Tadashi Agari, an elder commissioner in the presbytery, wrote in an email to The Layman that the sessions for each of the six churches cited no issues with the presbytery or Synod of the Pacific, and often expressed appreciation for the presbytery’s policies, ministries and fellowship. The frustration came from the GA and changes to the Book of... Continue Reading

Confessionalism is at odds with the market. Historically, Presbyterians have sought to be faithful to our ecclesiology and what we believe the Scriptures teach. That is one reason our churches are not as adaptive to the market as our Evangelical friends. We would never think of having a communion service on Thursdays like some megachurches... Continue Reading