On Memorial Day weekend, members of St. Nicholas’ Church in Midland, Texas, worshiped in the church they built together four years ago. More than 80 percent of the congregation will begin a new congregation, Christ Church Midland, which they hope to affiliate with another Anglican Province.

Members of St. Nicholas’ have been threatening to leave the Episcopal Church for more than a year. The vestry began withholding apportionment payments to the Diocese of Northwest Texas in January.

The Rev. Jon Stasney, rector of St. Nicholas’, had urged patience, but in February when he learned that a large congregation had been allowed to purchase its property from the Diocese of Kansas and leave the Episcopal Church [TLC, March 27], the rector approached the Rt. Rev. Wallis Ohl, Bishop of Northwest Texas, about a similar arrangement for St. Nicholas’.

After it became obvious in late March that most of the parishioners and all of the clergy wanted to leave the Episcopal Church as soon as possible, Bishop Ohl asked those who intended to leave to vacate the building by June 1.

“Bishop Ohl’s instruction that we leave our church home hurts us deeply,” Fr. Stasney said, “but it’s clear God is calling us to stand up for biblical values and share Christ’s love in new ways.”

The new congregation is named after the one in Overland Park, Kan., that was allowed to purchase its building. The Rev. Ron McCrary, rector of Christ Church Overland Park, told the Midland Reporter-Telegram that he took part in the final service at St. Nicholas’ to show the members of Christ Church Midland that “they are not alone.”

More news of the week:

· Southwest Florida Election to Be Rescheduled

· Rector of Prestigious Episcopal School to Resign

· Cross Burned at Durham, N.C., Church

· Easton Administrator Charged with Theft

· Canadian ACC Representatives Named

· Women's Caucus Plans College for Leadership Development

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