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Splitting church members say they will keep peace
by Shanna Sissom
Midland Reporter Telegram
City Editor
5/9/2005
St. Nicholas' Episcopal Church parishioners peacefully worshipped together Sunday, even as the congregation is splitting over denomination politics and biblical teachings, resulting in the charter of a new Midland church.
"It was a beautiful Mother's Day service, but going in and out, it was all about stopping each other to say, 'Whatever happens, we still care about you,'" said longtime member Edna Hibbitts, who is among 31 of more than 500 members voting to stay.
Almost 90 percent of members and their pastors were ordered by the Northwest Texas Diocese to leave St. Nicholas' for dissenting with the Episcopal Church's stance on homosexuality by naming a gay bishop in New Hampshire, among other things.
"But the homosexual issue is just a small part of a greater crisis," said the Rev. Jonathan Hartzer, associate rector. "The greater crisis is cultural accommodation at the expense of biblical Christianity."
Support for the ousted Midland congregation has come from all over the world, Hartzer said, and vast numbers of believers from afar are expected travel here to attend the last service of the full congregation May 29.
A new church, Christ Church Midland, is being chartered for those leaving and the diocese will send in a new, interim priest for those staying behind at the 4000 W. Loop 250 N. location. Overhead costs are about $300,000 per year, Pastor Jon Stasney said. The property, while paid for by local church members, is vested to the diocese. Stasney said ousted church members probably will meet at Midland Classical Academy during transition.
"While there's a real spirit of excitement and enthusiasm, there's some understandable grief about losing a building that's been such a great worship place for us," Stasney said, and has cautioned people not to be resentful. "That's to be expected but that's when you have the opportunity to test your Christian faith and it's an opportunity for Christian growth."
Hartzer said people began to "vote with their feet and pocketbooks" last spring, when church attendance and tithes began to plummet to the point donations are down by 50 percent this year.
But on Sunday, church attendance was considerably higher in all services, as people gathered amongst friends and fellow believers for one of the last times. Hibbitts said she still feels her fellow church members are like a family and is saddened by what has happened.
"It all boils down to, do you really feel convicted to leave because of the controversy," Hibbitts said. "We are determined not to let this spoil our friendships."
A member of St. Nicholas' since 1970, Hibbitts said she feels the controversy will be resolved by church hierarchy in upcoming years, and is determined to be patient in the meantime.
The diocese, she said, has offered to help the local church financially for the next two years.
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