St. Edmund's Anglican Church
St. Edmund's Anglican Church is a parish of the Convocation of Anglicans in North America in Elm Grove, Wisconsin.[1] Anglican churches stem from the traditions of the Church of England and bear some similarity with the Roman Catholic Church. Unlike the Roman Catholic Church, however, the central authority of the Pope is replaced by individual national churches. The Anglican Communion is an association of these churches. In the United States, the Episcopal Church is the official representative of the Anglican Communion. In 2008 St. Edmund's became the first congregation in Wisconsin to withdraw from the Episcopal Church to join the "Anglican Realignment" movement, a conservative movement of Anglicans in the United States and Canada. The movement seeks to defend what it sees is the supreme authority of Christian Holy Scripture and traditional Christian faith and practice.[2]
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[edit] History
St. Edmund's was founded 1947 by a small flock of Christian laity and clergy meeting in temporary facilities in the semi-rural village of Elm Grove, Waukesha County, Wisconsin (nine miles west of Milwaukee). Within a decade the group raised sufficient funds to build their own building on land donated to the congregation by members of their community on Watertown Plank Road near the center of the growing village. In 1962, St. Edmund's voted to voluntarily associate themselves with the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States of America and affiliated their rapidly growing ministry with the PECUSA Diocese of Milwaukee.[3]
Bishop Donald Hallock granted St. Edmund's the Charter of an earlier, defunct parish in his diocese dedicated to St. Edmond (Edmund), King of East Anglia martyred in 869 A.D. by the invading, pagan Danes. The free grant of the Charter provided the 15 year old parish with honorific roots to Christian ministry in Milwaukee dating to 1874 and Anglican historical connections stretching back almost 1,100 years.
In 1976 the parish called Fr. Wayne Carr Olmstead to serve as Rector. For the next 30 years, Fr. Olmstead provided exemplary leadership, counsel, and training not only for the parishioners of St. Edmund's but also for young men studying for ministry from Nashotah House Seminary.[4]
The death of Fr. Olmstead on March 13, 2006 left a deep gulf in the life of the community. For three decades he had not only guided his congregation in worship and ministry, but he had also insulated and isolated them from the controversies and discord tearing at the fabric of the Episcopal Church and the worldwide Anglican Communion. The death of their shepherd left the people of St. Edmund's Church fully exposed to vicissitudes of the Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee and the Episcopal Church USA.
The disconnect between the faith and practice of St. Edmund's Church and the Episcopal Church grew. As individuals and small groups within the parish began to research and reflect upon the doctrinal, liturgical, and social decisions made in recent years by the General Convention of the Episcopal Church it became clear that the ever-widening chasm between the conservative, orthodox Christianity of St. Edmund's communicants and the beliefs and practices of the church with whom they had associated for over 40 years could not be bridged.
In December, 2008 an absolute majority of St. Edmund's Church voted to remain within the Anglican Communion while disassociating themselves completely with the Episcopal Church USA. The congregation was immediately received into the Convocation of Anglicans in North America, the American mission of the Church of Nigeria, the largest Anglican Province in the world.[5] As of 2011, court proceedings are underway as the Episcopal Church argues that, through various national agreements, all parish property is always held in trust for the national church and is cannot be moved to another denomination, regardless of a parish's majority vote. St. Edmund's believes that it is the sole owner of the property and believes it has the right to associate with whatever denomination it chooses.
[edit] Declaration of St. Edmund's Church
The Declaration of St. Edmund's Church is considered by some an important document in the contemporary history of Christianity in the American Midwest as St. Edmund's was the first parish in Wisconsin to leave the Episcopal Church for a parallel jurisdiction of the Anglican Communion which the people of St. Edmund's consider to be more orthodox.
The Unanimous Declaration of the People of St. Edmund's Church, December 16, 2008
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth…” Romans 1:16
In the following statement, the congregation of St. Edmund’s Church is creating no exigencies, but simply acknowledging matters of fact. The conclusion, therefore, is the logical summation of existing realities rather than a declaration of innovation.
We believe that the canonical Holy Scriptures impart all things necessary for salvation. We believe that men fully inspired by God wrote the Bible and, therefore, in a unique and authoritative form, it is the Word of God. As the primary goal of biblical interpretation is to understand the attributes, mind, and actions of God (as much as this task is humanly possible), it should be undertaken with the utmost care, humility, and prayerful reliance upon Him. Exposition of Holy Scriptures begins from the perspective of the unchanging character of Almighty God, not current political, social, or economic perceptions. In these beliefs, the Episcopal Church has departed from us.[6]
We believe that the Bible gives us very clear, unchanging, and eternal instructions on moral and ethical behavior and that these biblical standards of morality and conduct should be maintained at all times and in all places. In this belief, the Episcopal Church has departed from us.[7]
We believe that the primary mission of the Church is to fulfill the Savior’s commission to His Apostles: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” In this belief, the Episcopal Church has departed from us.[8]
We believe that role of the Church in the world is to reconcile men to God through Jesus Christ our Lord. In this belief, the Episcopal Church has departed from us.[9]
We believe that as “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me,” Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Second Person of the Trinity is the sole Mediator between God and man. In this belief, the Episcopal Church has departed from us.[10]
We believe that the focus of Christian worship is Almighty God and, consistent with His holiness and sovereignty, He expects His people to worship Him in majesty and dignity. In this belief, the Episcopal Church has departed from us.[11]
We believe in the communion of saints. Physical, structural unity on earth must never be exalted over the invisible and spiritual union of contemporary Christians with the faith and practice of the saints and martyrs who, having given a true testimony here on earth, now worship before the Throne of God. We believe that we are responsible for maintaining the Faith for the whole people of God, for the entire experience of the revealed truth of the Christian Church. In these beliefs, the Episcopal Church has departed from us.[12]
We believe that for the Church to meet the distinguishing criteria of the Apostle’s and Nicene Creed to be one, holy, catholic and apostolic it must maintain the pure teaching of God’s Word,[13] the proper administration of the Sacraments,[14] and Biblical morality and Order.[15] In this belief, the Episcopal Church has departed from us.
Furthermore,
We find that the ordination of women to Holy Orders is a matter of dispute in which the Episcopal Church places itself in opposition to the overwhelming majority of the world’s Christians. We believe that, at the very least, the conscientious objections of faithful Christians should not be subject to the compulsory dictates of those sworn to “be merciful to all.”[16]
We find that the leadership of the Episcopal Church has become increasing intolerant and abusive toward conservative, biblical moral positions.[17]
We find that orthodox praxis and faith are increasingly marginalized and that the leadership of the Episcopal Church is rapidly moving to further restrict or abolish the remaining testimony of Christian orthodoxy.[18]
We do not acknowledge the departure of the Episcopal Church from St. Edmund’s Church in anger, but in grief. Like the bride of an abusive and unfaithful spouse, for our own safety and the secure future of our children, we must find shelter outside of this unhappy house.
As stated clearly by St. Paul “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness?” we are compelled by the dictates of Holy Scripture and the testimony of the Church throughout the ages to acknowledge that, having been abandoned by the Episcopal Church, we cannot seek reunion with it in its present state. Following the Episcopal Church’s example when departing the Diocese of London (1784) we will seek a haven in a lateral, orthodox branch of the Anglican Communion.[19]
We grieve for the contemporary state of the Episcopal Church “for they [have] exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.” May Almighty God grant His mercy to us all.[20]
[edit] Current Controversy
In February, 2009 the Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee filed a lawsuit in Waukesha County District Court claiming ownership of the parish property in Elm Grove. While the legal action is unresolved, St. Edmund's Anglican Church continues to worship and reach out to the community from its location on Watertown Plank Road.
[edit] References
- ^ CANA Welcomes St. Edmund's Anglican Church, Elm Grove, Wisconsin, Pastoral Letter (published), Rt. Rev. Martyn Minns, Herndon, Virginia: December 30, 2008, p. 2
- ^ Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Elm Grove Church Leaves Diocese, Annyse Johnston, Milwaukee: January 1, 2008
- ^ Fifty Years of St. Edmund's Church, Elm Grove, Wisconsin: St. Edmund's Church, 2002
- ^ Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Parish Mourns Priest, March 14, 2006
- ^ Wisconsin Public Radio,Lake Effect, February 2, 2009
- ^ Journal of the General Convention of the Episcopal Church, Columbus, 2006 New York: Church Publishing, 2007, pp. 417-418.
- ^ Journal of the General Convention of the Episcopal Church, Columbus, 2006 New York: Church Publishing, Church Publishing, 2007, p. 704.
- ^ Journal of the General Convention of the Episcopal Church, Columbus, 2006 New York: Church Publishing, 2007, pp. 522-524.
- ^ Journal of the General Convention of the Episcopal Church, Minneapolis, 2003 New York: Church Publishing, 2004, p. 265f.
- ^ Journal of the General Convention of the Episcopal Church, Columbus, 2006 New York: Church Publishing, 2007, Resolution D058.
- ^ Episcopal News, 060506-1-A, June 5, 2006
- ^ Journal of the General Convention of the Episcopal Church, Indianapolis, 1994 New York: Church Publishing, 1995, p. 351
- ^ The New Testament, John 8:31, 47; 14:23; Galatians 1:8-9; 2 Thessalonians 2:15; 2 Tim. 3:16-4:4; 1 John 4:1-3; 2 John 9-11
- ^ 1 Corinthians 10:14-17, 21; 11:23-30; Romans 6:3-4; Colossians 2:12; 1 Corinthians 10:16; 11:25-26; Galatians. 3:27; Exodus 12:48; Genesis 34:14; I Corinthians 10:21; Romans 6:3-4; Galatians3:27; 1 Peter 3:21;
- ^ Matthew 18:17; Acts 20:28-31a; Romans 16:17-18a; 1 Corinthians 5:1-5, 13; 14:33, 40; Galatians 6:1; Ephesians 5:6, 11; 2 Thessalonians 3:14-15; 1 Timothy 1:20; 5:20; Titus 1:10-11; 3:10; Revelation 2:14-16a; 2:20
- ^ The Book of Common Prayer, New York: Church Hymnal Corporation, 1979, p. 518
- ^ Journal of the General Convention of the Episcopal Church, Columbus, 2006 New York: Church Publishing, 2007, p. 343 and Executive Council Minutes, Executive Council of the Episcopal Church, January 9-12, 2006, Des Moines, IA, pp. 4-5.
- ^ Journal of the General Convention of the Episcopal Church, Columbus, 2006 New York: Church Publishing, 2007, pp. 690-691 and Executive Council Minutes, Executive Council of the Episcopal Church, June 11-14, 2004, Burlington, VT, pp. 20-21
- ^ The New Testament: I Corinthians 6:14.
- ^ The New Testament: Romans 1:25.
