Anglican Communion Network

Tennessee parishes take stand for orthodox faith

From theTullahoma News:

In an effort to reaffirm the orthodox beliefs of their faith, three area Episcopal churches have voted to realign with the Anglican Communion.

The move, made after the controversial naming of an openly homosexual man as bishop by the Episcopal Church of the United States of America (ECUSA) last year, came after much “soul-searching” and prayer by local congregations. Such ordination is seen by some as a step toward same-sex marriages that could lead to the validation of other, generally unacceptable lifestyles or actions.

St. Bedes in Manchester, Trinity Episcopal in Winchester and St. Barnabas in Tullahoma are just three of the area churches to take a stand for orthodox beliefs in recent weeks.

Rev. Laird Bryson at St. Barnabas explained that his parish vestry, or governing panel, voted to join the Network of Anglican Communion Dioceses and Parishes last week as a way to let both the congregation, the church community and the general public know that during this division within ECUSA, St. Barnabas will uphold the historic faith and tradition of the church.

“Over the last 30 years or so, there has been a gradual movement within ECUSA to promote the acceptance of the homosexual lifestyle, to bless and sanctify homosexual unions,” Bryson said.

Bryson added that time and time again, the leadership of the Anglican Communion, to which all Episcopal Churches belong, passed overwhelming “resolutions” saying such a move is against the scriptures, as interpreted by the church, and that sexuality is to be enjoyed within the union of holy matrimony between a man and a woman.”