An Alabama Church Closes its Doors
Episcopal church split over gay bishop ends services in Ala.
2/9/2007, 1:37 p.m. ET
The Associated Press
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — A church that lost much of its congregation when Episcopal leaders ordained the denomination's first openly gay bishop is closing after Sunday attendance fell to fewer than 10 people.
Christ the Redeemer Episcopal Church opened 26 years ago, but it never recovered from the split that occurred when its pastor resigned and formed his own church in opposition to the ordination of Bishop V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire in 2003.
The church held its final service on Jan. 28, but Alabama Bishop Henry Parsley said he hoped to start another congregation in the building in the future.
"The Episcopal church has a number of gifts to offer and preach Christ's love," Parsley told the Montgomery Advertiser in a story Friday. "With the right priest and finances, we'll be able to have another thriving Episcopal congregation in Montgomery in God's good time."
The church's former minister, Doug McCurry, resigned in 2005 over Robinson's ordination by the Episcopal Church USA, and nearly 90 percent of the congregation left with him. Other congregations also have left, and many aligned themselves with more conservative Anglican groups.
McCurry started his own church, the Legacy Anglican Church, and the congregation at Christ the Redeemer went from 175 to 40. The church brought in a new rector, John Paul Thompson, in September 2005.
A founding member of Christ the Redeemer, attorney Julian McPhillips, said Thompson wasn't suited to be rector of a church trying to regroup and grow.
"He was a good fellow with a good heart, but he was fresh out of seminary and had communication problems," McPhillips said.
Parsley said Christ the Redeemer folded because the congregation was too small to continue regular services. Church member Dollar McLemore said the congregation no longer had the finances to continue. The building has been leased to Montgomery Montessori school and the Korean Methodist Church.
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Information from: Montgomery Advertiser, http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com
2/9/2007, 1:37 p.m. ET
The Associated Press
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — A church that lost much of its congregation when Episcopal leaders ordained the denomination's first openly gay bishop is closing after Sunday attendance fell to fewer than 10 people.
Christ the Redeemer Episcopal Church opened 26 years ago, but it never recovered from the split that occurred when its pastor resigned and formed his own church in opposition to the ordination of Bishop V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire in 2003.
The church held its final service on Jan. 28, but Alabama Bishop Henry Parsley said he hoped to start another congregation in the building in the future.
"The Episcopal church has a number of gifts to offer and preach Christ's love," Parsley told the Montgomery Advertiser in a story Friday. "With the right priest and finances, we'll be able to have another thriving Episcopal congregation in Montgomery in God's good time."
The church's former minister, Doug McCurry, resigned in 2005 over Robinson's ordination by the Episcopal Church USA, and nearly 90 percent of the congregation left with him. Other congregations also have left, and many aligned themselves with more conservative Anglican groups.
McCurry started his own church, the Legacy Anglican Church, and the congregation at Christ the Redeemer went from 175 to 40. The church brought in a new rector, John Paul Thompson, in September 2005.
A founding member of Christ the Redeemer, attorney Julian McPhillips, said Thompson wasn't suited to be rector of a church trying to regroup and grow.
"He was a good fellow with a good heart, but he was fresh out of seminary and had communication problems," McPhillips said.
Parsley said Christ the Redeemer folded because the congregation was too small to continue regular services. Church member Dollar McLemore said the congregation no longer had the finances to continue. The building has been leased to Montgomery Montessori school and the Korean Methodist Church.
___
Information from: Montgomery Advertiser, http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com
posted by Patrick Townson at 12:24 PM
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