Monday, September 12, 2011

Finally !!!

All other postings and musings of the past several years aside; we have received verbal acceptance into the Diocese of Quincy, Anglican Church of North America.

Praise the Lord! We have resumed our plans to develop a retreat center, Ruah, on our wooded property in SW South Dakota.

We read the Daily Offices daily (RII), with Communion (1928 BCP or RI) on Saturday PM, at the present time.

Please pray for our direction, since we are both involved in this dream, Linda has brought the outdoor Chapel back into focus as she suggested two different locations for our outdoor Stations of the Cross, one around the Chapel area at the top of the ridge, the other, a slightly longer trek through our wood lot.

In His Name,
Chip†

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Like a bad penny, I have returned!

With no apologies, I have returned to the Episcopal Organization, to do what ever I can be allowed, to serve our small faith community at St. Luke's, Hot Springs. The Diocese of South Dakota still has me licensed as: preacher, evangelist, and lay Eucharistic visitor, so I will do just that. In Irish-speak, ''tis better the divil ye know, than one ye don't', and I do know the Protestant Episcopal Church, after all, I was born into it over 70 years ago, and I was called and trained at St. Luke's, Hot Springs, just not ordained by Creighton Robertson; and, after all, the efficacy of the Mass is in the Mass and Elements, not the overarching structure, nor the personnel involved.

Whatever the good Lord has for me to do, I will do here, since it is here that I am, and here I will stay, until He leads me otherwise.

There are some who have been hurt by my inconsistent actions over the past few years, and I apologise for that; but I will practice my religion as, and where I am permitted, in the Episcopal Organization or out, since I am still the contract relief Chaplain to the SD State Veteran's Home, serve the VA Medical Center here on occasion, and serve on a Methodist district as a supply preacher.

Pray for us, as we try to live a traditional and orthodox Anglican experience in a hostile environment.

'til He comes,

Chip+

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Still Anglican, just cast adrift!

Since the New Year's (nuptial mass) at the Cathedral in Cambridge Mass, I have been totally and thoroughly cast adrift. The Church of my youth is no more! Oh, I know there are still signs about the country that read 'St. So and So Episcopal Church', but the Church in which I was raised and catechized ceased to exist with the actions of bishop Tom Shaw and the tacit concurrence of the presiding bishopess of the Episcopal Cafe in solemnizing the so-called marriage rite between two lesbian staff members, one cathedral staff and the other dean of seminary.

My heart is breaking, I have been unable so far to make satisfactory contact with the Anglican Church of North America or the Anglican Mission in America or any other entity of Anglicanism for the past two plus years. My ordaining authority has ceased to exist, my former diocese has ceased to exist, I cannot find anyone to assume oversight of the ministries we have in place...so guess they close down also.

I may just have to return to the Church of God, Cleveland TN and beg for reinstatement of ordination there to validate my ministry.

Pray for us, for our ministry with the State Department of the Military, for our plans and calling to establish a Christian retreat center in the Black Hills.

Friends, I am lost!


In His Name,
Fr Chip, CoJ

Friday, January 07, 2011

Still on Sabbatical, ad infinitum!

As of New Year's Day, 2011, a day which will live in infamy, I have prayerfully decided that it is time for me to cut the ties that bind me to the Church of my birth.

Tom Shaw's steadfast (dis)obedience, supported by his boss Kate, in the 'strong suggestions' of the Anglican leadershop, world-wide, has prompted this.

Strangely, I am at peace in my soul for the first time in several years.

I await the final answer from Daryl Fenton and Bishop Duncan of the Anglican Church in North America, and will abide with their decision. I fret no more...if I am to maintain a priestly role, or be a good pew-mouse, I can do either with out regret.
It only remains to be seen just where that pew-mouse will find a hole.

Our ministries, in place, will be adjusted or dissolved accordingly.

Pray for the Church of God, that she may overcome the cares and disorders of this present world.

My present readings...over and over and over... are from Jean-Claude de Cassaunt's epic little monograph from the early 1700's on living totally in the present, and the abandonment of one's self to the will of God for the moment.

It is taking time, but I am confident that His will will be done in the world, and the Church.

We can only pray thus.

In His Name,
Fr. Chip

pace e bene