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JACKSONVILLE, FL: Grace Church plans to leave Kingsley Avenue location by Easter
By MARY MARAGHY
The Florida Times-Union
February 4, 2005
Clay County Line--Following an eviction notice from Florida's Episcopal bishop, leaders at Grace Episcopal Church have agreed to leave the Kingsley Avenue campus by Easter, April 16, and relocate to rented space.
Grace Church quit its denomination -- the Episcopal Church USA -- citing irreconcilable differences following the ordination of a gay bishop. In January, the church realigned under a conservative Anglican bishop in Rwanda and continued with regular services.
This angered Florida's Episcopal bishop, who demanded that Grace's pastor for 20 years, the Rev. Sam Pascoe, and his staff vacate the church property.
Under church law, the Episcopal diocese owns all church properties. Grace's parish, which will meet to discuss its future at 12:30 p.m. Sunday is looking at empty shopping-center space on Loch Rane Boulevard near Publix, St. Johns Country Day School and the old Hindu temple on Park Avenue. Pascoe said Grace leaders decided a judge would immediately look at the deed to the property which has the diocese listed as owner. Plus, he said they don't believe in Christians suing Christians.
"We could not see spending a lot of God's money and time on this when there are other more important things to do," Pascoe said. "The bishop will inherit an empty building and an awful lot of bills."
"Our actual departure from this beloved facility will be tied to Easter and the celebration of new life and resurrection." Grace, founded in 1880 on land donated to the parish, was Florida's second largest Episcopal church in terms of attendance. Church members built the church, which now consists of 17 buildings.
The bishop's spokesman, the Rev. Kurt Dunkle, could not be reached for comment.
This story can be found on Jacksonville.com at http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/020406/nec_20996132.shtml.
