Good News from Falls Church

 There are several “hot spots” in the Episcopal world, where churches or entire dioceses have already split away, or are working towards splitting away. One such is Falls Church, VA, site of one of the oldest and most wealthy Episcopal churches in the country, which became very conservative over the last few decades. Recently, they aligned with the Diocese of Nigeria, overseen by Bp. Akinola. But a significant fraction of the church did not go with them – although they didn’t have control of the property, so they began meeting nearby. The former Falls Church, now a CANA church, is struggling with the issue of women’s ordination, which threatens further ructions while their rector/bishop Martyn Minns struggles to hold “two integrities” in balance. One point of view is “no women priests or deacons, no how.” The other is “maybe women in some lesser role, but not priests.” This must be distressing to at least some of the new CANA Anglicans.

At the same time, the members of the continuing Episcopalian congregation are getting on with their spiritual lives and finding something useful to do for others, rather than wasting time feeling sorry for themselves. They may yet come out on top in the inevitable court case, or may not; but they’ve got better things to do:

Falls Church News-Press – Defectors from Episcopal Church Revert to Ban on Women Priests

Meanwhile, Falls Church’s “Continuing Episcopalians,” those who voted not to defect, now number over 200 in their ranks and worship weekly at a fellowship hall of the Falls Church Presbyterian, across the street from The Falls Church, have grown their ranks and has (sic) partnered with Homestretch, Inc., a Falls Church-based non-profit dedicated to transitioning homeless families into stable living environments.Over Thanksgiving, the “Continuing Episcopalians,” who have adopted the original name of their church, The Falls Church Episcopal Church, worked with Homestretch to prepare and deliver food baskets to a number of Homestretch families. For the Christmas holidays, F.C. Episcopal parishioners spend a day with Homestretch children shopping for and wrapping gifts for their family members. Parish families have committed to supporting six Homestretch families through the Christmas holidays and into the New Year.

Last week, Christopher Fay, executive director of Homestretch, accepted a $1,000 check from Neal M. Callander, junior warden of the F.C. Episcopal.

Now that’s what I call getting on with things.