Yes, there was pain and, yes, God’s Church presses on.

St. Andrew’s in the Pines Episcopal Church in Peachtree City has gone though a tremendous upheaval.

Sixty-eight percent, not “about 45 percent,” of the congregation decided they could no longer faithfully support the “new” theology and interpretations of the Bible unilaterally decided upon by The Episcopal Church USA (TEC/ECUSA).

As a result of this two-thirds majority vote, the parish governing body (vestry) also voted to leave TEC and affiliate with Bishop Martyn Minns of Truro Church, Virginia. Bishop Minns is a missionary bishop in the Convocation of Anglicans in North America (CANA) under Bishop Akinola of Nigeria.

While attempting to negotiate with Bishop J. Neil Alexander and the Diocese of Atlanta, the vestry was deposed (fired), sued by the diocese and their own congregation of St. Andrew’s. (Christian attitude: 1 Cor. 6:1-7?).

TEC may be alive for now; a minus-2-percent drop (42,443) in active baptized members, a minus-1-percent drop (8,494) in average Sunday attendance (2004-2005, TEC research office, Congregational Development), but not scripturally well.

TEC supports Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, who isn’t sure if Jesus is the only way to salvation (Time magazine, Oct. 17, 2006) and Consecrated Bishop V.G. Robinson, New Hampshire, who is in an extramarital relationship (General Convention 2003).

Local Bishop J. Neil Alexander voted against a resolution (B001 General Convention 2003) that upheld the authority of Scripture and basic tenets of Christian faith.

My message to you is this: Over 100 faithful Christians “press on” as All Saints Anglican Church (anglican-church-ptc.org). We are faithfully committed to 2,000 years of traditional Anglican theology and scripture interpretation supported by a majority of 77 million members of the World Wide Anglican Communion.

We continue to worship and pray in the traditional Anglican manner; listen to, read and most importantly try to live our lives by the scriptures; recite, believe and most importantly practice the traditional creeds and celebrate Holy Communion with “Him in us and we in Him,” our only Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Come join us; our doors are open to all (anglican-church-ptc.org).

R.C. and Ellie Rover

Peachtree City, Ga.

[The Rovers describe themselves as “24-year members of St. Andrew’s and now members of All Saints Anglican Church.”]

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