St. George's Macomb

[Ward Lewis]

I hear there is a problem with the vestry in Macomb. Is it really true that they are trying to kick Tobyn and a couple of others off? How can they do that? Fr. Drummond is gone isn't he- who is behind this? I just don't understand the reasoning here- anybody want to help me with this one?

[Tobyn Leigh]

Hi Ward --

THe short answer is yes.

This started the last week of May. Initially Fr. Ron Drummond met with two of us individually (one of our number declined to respond to his invitation) and gently tried to encourage us to either give up TEC affiliation and join the SC-ACNA party-line in the interest of keeping the church family intact -- or to resign our positions on the vestry. The reason he gave me was that he didn't see how we could hold an office in both the Cone-ACNA vestry and the TEC-affiliated diocese when the ACNA group has now initiated legal proceedings against TEC. He did not give us ultimatums. In fact, he said "I'm no hatchet man" and said to me that as the rector he couldn't force us to resign.

In short, things have escalated. Fast forward -- The three of us have declined to resign our positions representing the interests of Episcopalians and their property on the St. George's-ACNA controlled church. The group of parishioners who remain affiliated with TEC have reorganized as St George's Protestant Episcopal Church parish (the historic documented name of same), held a parish meeting, elected a vestry and officers. Some still worship and provide other services at St. George's church. Some prefer to worship elsewhere until things are resolved legally. There have been some strongly worded correspondences. Lewis Payne has been named interim rector by the ACNA diocese group. He has stated that we cannot canonically remain on the vestry because one must be a communicant in good standing to do so. He also stated that we are now also members of another denomination. We have been told that the only "charitable and honorable" course of action is to resign, that we can worship there, but not participate in any 'official capacity'.

We went to the June vestry meeting anyway, but Payne was absent due to illness. The Sr. Warden asked our intentions and when we said we had no intention of resigning but they could certainly vote to remove us if they wished, he declined to do so. We have asked Payne for written explicit and clear explanation regarding our status as communicants, and what restrictions he intends to impose, and what is meant by 'official capacity.' We have imposed a deadline for Payne's response.

We honor the instruction of our Provisional Bishop: "Stand firm. Concede nothing. Live in the sunshine."

[Ward Lewis]

So now what will happen?
I cannot believe that they think that they can force you to leave.
What a crock.
I love your "motto" though...Stand firm. Concede nothing. Live in the sunshine."
You sound like a strong lady, I am sure you will be fine!
Thank you for answering me-
I still don't understand why there is so litle conversation on this website- I thought that was one of the main points of having it.
Is there another website where people actually talk to each other in the real Diocese of Quincy?
I find it inspirational to hear from people like you and how battles are being won for TEC
You seem to be the only one taking this seriously enough to keep others informed.
I have tried to start other conversations, anyway, thank you for everything you are doing.
TEC is lucky to have you.

Ward

[Gwyneth L. Roeger]

Tobyn Leigh said:

Hi Ward --

THe short answer is yes.

This started the last week of May. Initially Fr. Ron Drummond met with two of us individually (one of our number declined to respond to his invitation) and gently tried to encourage us to either give up TEC affiliation and join the SC-ACNA party-line in the interest of keeping the church family intact -- or to resign our positions on the vestry. The reason he gave me was that he didn't see how we could hold an office in both the Cone-ACNA vestry and the TEC-affiliated diocese when the ACNA group has now initiated legal proceedings against TEC. He did not give us ultimatums. In fact, he said "I'm no hatchet man" and said to me that as the rector he couldn't force us to resign.

In short, things have escalated. Fast forward -- The three of us have declined to resign our positions representing the interests of Episcopalians and their property on the St. George's-ACNA controlled church. The group of parishioners who remain affiliated with TEC have reorganized as St George's Protestant Episcopal Church parish (the historic documented name of same), held a parish meeting, elected a vestry and officers. Some still worship and provide other services at St. George's church. Some prefer to worship elsewhere until things are resolved legally. There have been some strongly worded correspondences. Lewis Payne has been named interim rector by the ACNA diocese group. He has stated that we cannot canonically remain on the vestry because one must be a communicant in good standing to do so. He also stated that we are now also members of another denomination. We have been told that the only "charitable and honorable" course of action is to resign, that we can worship there, but not participate in any 'official capacity'.

We went to the June vestry meeting anyway, but Payne was absent due to illness. The Sr. Warden asked our intentions and when we said we had no intention of resigning but they could certainly vote to remove us if they wished, he declined to do so. We have asked Payne for written explicit and clear explanation regarding our status as communicants, and what restrictions he intends to impose, and what is meant by 'official capacity.' We have imposed a deadline for Payne's response.

We honor the instruction of our Provisional Bishop: "Stand firm. Concede nothing. Live in the sunshine."

[Virginia Bradshaw]

Gwyneth L. Roeger said:

Tobyn Leigh said:

Hi Ward --

THe short answer is yes.

This started the last week of May. Initially Fr. Ron Drummond met with two of us individually (one of our number declined to respond to his invitation) and gently tried to encourage us to either give up TEC affiliation and join the SC-ACNA party-line in the interest of keeping the church family intact -- or to resign our positions on the vestry. The reason he gave me was that he didn't see how we could hold an office in both the Cone-ACNA vestry and the TEC-affiliated diocese when the ACNA group has now initiated legal proceedings against TEC. He did not give us ultimatums. In fact, he said "I'm no hatchet man" and said to me that as the rector he couldn't force us to resign.

In short, things have escalated. Fast forward -- The three of us have declined to resign our positions representing the interests of Episcopalians and their property on the St. George's-ACNA controlled church. The group of parishioners who remain affiliated with TEC have reorganized as St George's Protestant Episcopal Church parish (the historic documented name of same), held a parish meeting, elected a vestry and officers. Some still worship and provide other services at St. George's church. Some prefer to worship elsewhere until things are resolved legally. There have been some strongly worded correspondences. Lewis Payne has been named interim rector by the ACNA diocese group. He has stated that we cannot canonically remain on the vestry because one must be a communicant in good standing to do so. He also stated that we are now also members of another denomination. We have been told that the only "charitable and honorable" course of action is to resign, that we can worship there, but not participate in any 'official capacity'.

We went to the June vestry meeting anyway, but Payne was absent due to illness. The Sr. Warden asked our intentions and when we said we had no intention of resigning but they could certainly vote to remove us if they wished, he declined to do so. We have asked Payne for written explicit and clear explanation regarding our status as communicants, and what restrictions he intends to impose, and what is meant by 'official capacity.' We have imposed a deadline for Payne's response.

We honor the instruction of our Provisional Bishop: "Stand firm. Concede nothing. Live in the sunshine."

[Virginia Bradshaw]

Virginia Bradshaw said:

Gwyneth L. Roeger said:

Tobyn Leigh said:

Hi Ward --

THe short answer is yes.

This started the last week of May. Initially Fr. Ron Drummond met with two of us individually (one of our number declined to respond to his invitation) and gently tried to encourage us to either give up TEC affiliation and join the SC-ACNA party-line in the interest of keeping the church family intact -- or to resign our positions on the vestry. The reason he gave me was that he didn't see how we could hold an office in both the Cone-ACNA vestry and the TEC-affiliated diocese when the ACNA group has now initiated legal proceedings against TEC. He did not give us ultimatums. In fact, he said "I'm no hatchet man" and said to me that as the rector he couldn't force us to resign.

In short, things have escalated. Fast forward -- The three of us have declined to resign our positions representing the interests of Episcopalians and their property on the St. George's-ACNA controlled church. The group of parishioners who remain affiliated with TEC have reorganized as St George's Protestant Episcopal Church parish (the historic documented name of same), held a parish meeting, elected a vestry and officers. Some still worship and provide other services at St. George's church. Some prefer to worship elsewhere until things are resolved legally. There have been some strongly worded correspondences. Lewis Payne has been named interim rector by the ACNA diocese group. He has stated that we cannot canonically remain on the vestry because one must be a communicant in good standing to do so. He also stated that we are now also members of another denomination. We have been told that the only "charitable and honorable" course of action is to resign, that we can worship there, but not participate in any 'official capacity'.

We went to the June vestry meeting anyway, but Payne was absent due to illness. The Sr. Warden asked our intentions and when we said we had no intention of resigning but they could certainly vote to remove us if they wished, he declined to do so. We have asked Payne for written explicit and clear explanation regarding our status as communicants, and what restrictions he intends to impose, and what is meant by 'official capacity.' We have imposed a deadline for Payne's response.

We honor the instruction of our Provisional Bishop: "Stand firm. Concede nothing. Live in the sunshine."

[Virginia Bradshaw]

Virginia Bradshaw said:

Virginia Bradshaw said:

Gwyneth L. Roeger said:

Tobyn Leigh said:

Hi Ward --

THe short answer is yes.

This started the last week of May. Initially Fr. Ron Drummond met with two of us individually (one of our number declined to respond to his invitation) and gently tried to encourage us to either give up TEC affiliation and join the SC-ACNA party-line in the interest of keeping the church family intact -- or to resign our positions on the vestry. The reason he gave me was that he didn't see how we could hold an office in both the Cone-ACNA vestry and the TEC-affiliated diocese when the ACNA group has now initiated legal proceedings against TEC. He did not give us ultimatums. In fact, he said "I'm no hatchet man" and said to me that as the rector he couldn't force us to resign.

In short, things have escalated. Fast forward -- The three of us have declined to resign our positions representing the interests of Episcopalians and their property on the St. George's-ACNA controlled church. The group of parishioners who remain affiliated with TEC have reorganized as St George's Protestant Episcopal Church parish (the historic documented name of same), held a parish meeting, elected a vestry and officers. Some still worship and provide other services at St. George's church. Some prefer to worship elsewhere until things are resolved legally. There have been some strongly worded correspondences. Lewis Payne has been named interim rector by the ACNA diocese group. He has stated that we cannot canonically remain on the vestry because one must be a communicant in good standing to do so. He also stated that we are now also members of another denomination. We have been told that the only "charitable and honorable" course of action is to resign, that we can worship there, but not participate in any 'official capacity'.

We went to the June vestry meeting anyway, but Payne was absent due to illness. The Sr. Warden asked our intentions and when we said we had no intention of resigning but they could certainly vote to remove us if they wished, he declined to do so. We have asked Payne for written explicit and clear explanation regarding our status as communicants, and what restrictions he intends to impose, and what is meant by 'official capacity.' We have imposed a deadline for Payne's response.

We honor the instruction of our Provisional Bishop: "Stand firm. Concede nothing. Live in the sunshine."

[Virginia Bradshaw]

Gwyneth & I are having problems replying to your message, Tobyn.

In January 2008 Fr. Payne came to St. James EPISCOPAL Church with strong arm tactics. We "stood firm, conceded nothing, lived in the sunshine." He failed.

Good to see you are doing the same. Know of our continual prayers.

Gwyneth Roeger & Virginia Bradshaw

[Tobyn Leigh]

Thanks for the words of support!