(Baltimore Sun) Letters lament, explain closing St. George’s Church in the diocese of Maryland

Posted by Kendall Harmon

This is a difficult time for the wider church, not just St. George's. The diocese is looking at all of our ministries and what our response might be to the world in which we now find ourselves witnessing. One thing is certain, the way we have done church the past 200 years is not working now.

Given your family history at Spesutia Parish, I can only imagine how this must feel. Just as your ancestors were the leaders who made decisions in their time, this is our time. We are the leaders who have been entrusted with the stewardship of the church. As the chief steward of the diocese, the bishop takes very seriously his charge.

That episcopal stewardship extends to all property in the diocese. Each parish holds its property in trust for the diocese and each diocese, in turn, holds all church property in trust for The Episcopal Church. That is a matter of canon law.

Read both letters carefully.

Filed under: * Anglican - Episcopal • Episcopal Church (TEC) • TEC Bishops • TEC Parishes • * Christian Life / Church Life • Parish Ministry • Stewardship

4 Comments
Posted December 12, 2012 at 4:20 pm [Printer Friendly] [Print w/ comments]



1. BlueOntario wrote:

One thing is certain, the way we have done church the past 200 years is not working now.

Very true. Perhaps they should consider bringing it back.

December 12, 11:21 pm | [comment link]
2. David Hein wrote:

Or repent for the arrogant and rushed way they knocked it all to pieces in the first place—or at least get a guide to basic grammar and spelling.

December 13, 8:42 pm | [comment link]
3. TomRightmyer wrote:

The name Spesutia comes from a nearby farm owned by a family named Utie and called in English, “Utie’s hope.”  It is near Aberdeen, NC, but not near enough.  The nearest town is Perryman, MD, but the lower part of the neck is a military reservation, Aberdeen Proving Ground.  A series of clergy have tried everything in the contemporary Episcopal Church bag of tricks without success.  I served 1968-74 at the next parish south in Joppatowne, but the mission there never grew to be self-supporting.  Spestia had a small endowment but I suspect that has been spent.

December 13, 9:29 pm | [comment link]
4. Statmann wrote:

It appeaars that Religion is like Politics: it ia all local.  Since 2002 TEC has lost 22.3 percent of its ASA but only 7.9 percent of its churches.  TEC closes far lless than 100 churches each year, To match the decline in ASA it should close more than 200 a year.  It is a matter of good stewardship.  Statmann

December 13, 9:30 pm | [comment link]
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