Trinity Offers Support to Diocese

To: The People of Trinity Church, Beaver
From: The Reverend Scott T Homer
Date: October 29, 2009

Dear Friends,

A couple of weeks ago I wrote you about the judge’s decision against the Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh. I am writing you again to inform you that our parish was asked to help mount an appeal of that ruling. We were asked and we have agreed to lend funds to the diocese. I want you to know a little about that decision.

If you have attended any of the meetings where we have spoken about the litigation you have heard me say that our lives are not about the property. They are about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Our common goal is to worship God in the beauty of holiness, not to worship in any particular structure. My position has not changed. Our purpose remains the same. We are called to remain focused on reaching out to the least, the last and the lost. That is the mission of the churches but if the churches of the diocese were to lose their assets it would severely damage the mission and ministry that those parishes are doing here in Western PA. On Tuesday night, the Standing Committee of the Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh voted to appeal the lower court decision against them. Our Bishop concurs.

As the Standing Committee was considering their options it became obvious to them that the judge’s decision must be appealed in order to protect the integrity of the diocesan structure and the rights of our parishes to decide their own future. But although it was obvious that the case ought to be appealed there were no liquid assets available to pay for such an appeal. Unless funds could be found the diocese would have to suffer the inevitable consequences of an unfair ruling—loss of property and the right to self-govern. I became aware of their need about ten days ago and I told the diocese I would ask our parish leadership if they would be willing to lend them money in order to enable them to mount a legal defense. Vestry had already decided that in extraordinary times like ours we ought to be using our invested funds and not holding onto them as a hedge against some distant anxiety.

On Monday night, at a special meeting, the vestry voted unanimously in favor of lending the money to the diocese. (The amount is substantial. Any member of the parish can ask and we will make the amount known. I just don’t want to publish it here). We have advanced the money to them with a letter signed by vestry. Both this letter and that one will be posted in the parish this Sunday. Virtually every vestry member expressed regrets, not that they were giving the money, but that there were no viable options, no alternative paths that made any sense. We all expressed hopes that this thing could be over soon so that we might concentrate fully on the mission and ministry of the parish. You need to know just what a difficult decision it was. I am very proud of the integrity and faithfulness demonstrated by each one of them. I pray that you will support and encourage them through your vocal affirmations and through your private prayers.

As I write, we await the formal announcement of the intent to appeal. We have no idea what the future holds but I am at peace. We rest in the assurance of God’s grace and good favor towards us. A wise senior member of the parish offered this advice the other day. He said, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3.5-6) We serve an awesome God and it is in His power that we trust.

In Christ,

Scott +