They are realigning variously with the different overseas Anglican provinces. Other congregations in the Diocese of Florida are planning to take similar actions in the next few months.

The congregations are not joining any other denomination, but instead are remaining faithful Anglicans. They are members of the Anglican Alliance of North Florida which was formed in September 2005 to provide Biblically-centered churches and clergy in the Anglican Communion a framework for unified witness and ministry in North Florida.

Since its inception, the AANF has grown to represent fourteen congregations and forty priests in the North Florida area. www.anglicanalliancenf.org

Three of the parishes have been facing an imminent threat from the bishop and leadership of the diocese to take over these congregations, an action that is not mandatory according to church law. These parishes out of conscience stopped their voluntary pledging when the diocese continued to support the national Episcopal Church after General Convention 2003.

The Rev. Neil G. Lebhar, Rector of Church of the Redeemer, said, "We have sadly watched firsthand as theological and moral decay advanced within the Episcopal Church. One of the marks of a true church is the ability to exercise both doctrinal and ethical discipline, a mark increasingly absent in the Episcopal Church.

The Episcopal Church's unbiblical actions and failures to act have splintered the Anglican Communion.

As a recent article in Episcopal Life made clear, the Episcopal Church has begun heading down the road to heresy. (David Steinmetz, "World Christianity: Under New Management?") It has been unwilling to turn around, despite repeated appeals from inside the larger Anglican Communion and from other concerned Christian churches around the world.

Bishop Howard has told many privately and publicly that he expects no full reversal of the General Convention's decisions in the foreseeable future." Lebhar continued, "We deeply regret that the Diocese of Florida has failed to take the kind of sacrificial actions which would align it publicly with the vast majority of the Anglican Communion.

Instead it has remained financially and sacramentally in partnership with those who have ignored the historic traditions of the church, and the Faith once delivered to the saints. At the same time, we pledge ourselves to pray for our faithful brothers and sisters in the diocese, and ask their prayers during this tragic season."

The congregations are joining three others which have already transferred from the diocese in order to maintain ties with the larger Anglican Communion: Calvary Church in Jacksonville, Anglican Fellowship of High Springs (parishioners from St. Bartholomew's) and St. Peter's Church (the significant majority of the former staff and active parishioners of St. John's), in Tallahassee.

The realigning congregations also believe that the Episcopal Church has overtly abandoned its claim to its historic roots and its place in the worldwide Anglican Communion and therefore it has relinquished any claims over the property and resources which the congregations paid for and steward.

St. Luke's leases its property and will continue to do so according to conversations with the diocesan office. One parish may begin worship on another site while they await resolution.

The congregations do not believe that they should be forced to leave or lose their claim to their parish property because it is the Episcopal Church's leadership which has caused this sad division.

The letter asks the bishop to negotiate the properties in good faith, using mediation if necessary because of the parishes' sincere desire to prevent litigation.

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Letter to Bishop Howard: December 12, 2005

The Rt. Rev. Samuel Johnson Howard
Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Florida
325 Market Street
Jacksonville, Florida 32202

Dear Bishop Howard:

I had hoped to have some meaningful dialogue with you before now toward the resolution of various matters associated with the realignment of All Souls, Redeemer, Grace, St. Michael's and St. Luke's Community of Life (hereinafter referred to collectively as the congregations) with other jurisdictions within the Anglican Communion.

I am disappointed that, despite our attempts to meet with you, this has not happened. We truly made, and continue to make, every effort to comply with your desire to have this transition underway by year end, but our lack of conversation obviously makes this very difficult. So, at this time, the five congregations make the following proposal.

On January 1, 2006, all of the clergy affiliated with these congregations shall arrange for oversight from other Bishops within the worldwide Anglican Communion. We will be requesting that you simply transfer them without ecclesiastical fanfare or contention.

Although you have suggested in the past that you are without the authority to do this, I have thoroughly studied the applicable canons and respectfully disagree. For precedence for this type of transfer, you need look no farther than the Dioceses of Central Florida and South Carolina. These respected Bishops made similar transfers.

As for the four parishes themselves, we propose that each keep the property which they presently occupy, and rightfully feel they already own since it is the parishioners who have built and paid for the properties believing that the Diocese and ECUSA would remain true to the Faith once delivered and to the core doctrines and ethics of the Anglican Communion and the Christian faith.

Unfortunately, ECUSA has recently, in effect, begun a departure from full communion with most Anglicans worldwide, and you have said publicly that you do not expect a significant reversal of the Episcopal Church's direction.

You have also stated that you would never leave ECUSA. Some of the properties have significant debt/mortgages which the congregations willingly accept.

Furthermore, to be fair to the Diocese, each parish will gladly reimburse the Diocese for any Diocesan contributions that may have been made toward the purchase and improvements upon the properties.

We will release the Diocese from any further legal obligations or liabilities associated with these properties, and we will pay all necessary legal costs incurred in the process.

We believe this proposal is fair and equitable and serves the best interests of all parties involved. Most importantly, it provides for a speedy resolution to this conflict and allows the parishes to return without delay to the mission to which they were first called, to the orthodox worship of God, remaining true to the Gospel of Christ.

We will make every effort to meet with you on any date and time you find convenient.

Also, in order to honor scripture and perhaps avoid needless litigation, we are willing to engage in the mediation process to work out the necessary details. I look forward to hearing from you.

Respectfully,

David P. Dearing