News for Week Ending 8/4/2013

Marriage study task force meets

The 2012 General Convention passed Resolution A050, which calls for a task force “to identify and explore biblical, theological, historical, liturgical, and canonical dimensions of marriage.” The task force is to report to the 2015 General Convention. According to Episcopal News Service, the task force, whose members were appointed by the Presiding Bishop and the President of the House of Deputies, met for the first time in Baltimore July 29–August 1, 2013. The Episcopal Church Task Force on the Study of Marriage issued a report on its meeting August 5. The 12-member task force is composed of 10 clergy and 2 laypeople.

Fort Worth seeking to revise constitution, canons

As The Episcopal Church considers how it might profitably be re-organized—see Pittsburgh Update story here—the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth is embarking on a complete revision of its constitution and canons. Fort Worth, like Pittsburgh, experienced a split in 2008. The diocese is soliciting ideas about what to keep and what to change from people both within and outside the Diocese of Fort Worth. Details can be found on the diocesan Web site.

Southern Ohio Episcopal congregation selling church after parish split

St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church of Westerville, Ohio, held its final service in its 23,995-square-foot building in the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Ohio on July 7, 2013. Much of the former 500-member congregation left in 2008 to form St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, and the remaining Episcopal congregation cannot afford its $15,000-per-month mortgage. The property has been turned over to the diocese, which has placed a $2.95 million price tag on it. The congregation is now meeting in temporary space and is attempting “to redefine itself as ‘a church without walls.’” The Columbus Dispatch reported on the transition of St. Matthew’s August 2.

Episcopalians participate in Moral Mondays

Since April 29, 2013, protesters have demonstrated in Raleigh, North Carolina, each Monday to oppose the radical agenda of the Republican-controlled North Carolina capitol and statehouse. According to the Charlotte Observer, the demonstrations have resulted in 920 arrests. The demonstrations for social justice have been dubbed Moral Mondays. Originally organized by the North Carolina NAACP, the protests have drawn thousands from both secular and religious organizations, including clergy and laypeople from the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina. Episcopal News Service covered the demonstrations here.