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FT. WORTH: Evangelical Rector Writes Blistering Letter to TEC Bishop Over Parish Invasion
By David W. Virtue
www.virtueonline.org
February 15, 2011
Dickson, an outspoken evangelical theologian in a predominantly Anglo-Catholic diocese, ripped the liberal interloping bishop calling his persistence in taking over the parish "a charade in an effort to confuse the courts and assume control of our churches and and our assets."
In a letter to the parish, Ohl wrote that the diocese and TEC retain the parish under the Dennis Canon arguing that "those buildings belong to generations of Episcopalians who worshipped there in the past and who will worship there in the future.
"These are the reasons for the lawsuits - to protect your church and the rich heritage of Episcopalians in North Texas."
Dickson blasted back declaring that "after more than 100 years, St. Andrew's remains a bulwark of the Fort Worth Diocese under the godly episcopal oversight of the Right Reverend Jack Leo Iker, sound financially, strong spiritually, and conducting traditional orthodox worship and ministry for Forth Worth families."
He rounded off his rip saying, "The conduct of TEC is an abomination; have no fear."
The Episcopal Church will play host to two meetings with members of St. Andrews, the first is the annual meeting for St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, the second, is with Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori and members of the General Convention's Executive Council, at Southcliff Baptist Church. However late last week, the church withdrew as host of the event.
On November 15, 2008, after fifteen years as a bishop, Iker left the Episcopal Church. He has taken most of the Diocese of Fort Worth with him: 48 churches, 15,000 parishioners, and more than 58 clergy. A small minority of 8 churches did not follow him. Litigation began soon after. Hundreds of millions of dollars of real estate, buildings, and investments-the legacy of a century and a half of worship is at stake.
http://www.st-andrew.com/Libraries/documents/Letter_to_St_Andrew_s_Parishioners.sflb.ashx
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