Removed as obsolete

Armstrong Defrocked

Details can be found here:

http://www.graceepiscopalcolosprings.org/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/armstrongdeposed.doc


Listen to KRCC here:

http://www.krcc.org/krccnews/Armstronggone.m3u


Colorado Springs Gazette article here:

http://www.gazette.com/articles/church_29212___article.html/armstrong_diocese.html


Rocky Mountain News article here:

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_5736914,00.html


The rent-an-auditor approach did not influence this at all.
The next venue for this issue is criminal court...now that the police have the time (see RMN article).

Donald Armstrong...SC Recommends Defrock

Please see the details here:

http://www.coloradodiocese.org/06_newsandevents/PDFs/ec_finaljudgement.pdf

The decision of the Standing Committee is final, meaning the will no longer be deliberating.
The Bishop has 30 days to announce the final sentence.
Donald has two weeks to respond in some constructive manner to try to influence the Bishop's announcement, which can have a result as severe or less so than the sentence of the Standing Committee.

Let me see, that puts us at about...Halloween...at the latest.
Do you suppose our Bishop has a sense of humor?

Opinions?

An Open Invitation to Discuss...Vestry Elections are Coming.

The upcoming vestry vote, scheduled for Monday, September 10 (with some alternate times being discussed as I write this, I believe) will give us a unique opportunity, not afforded members of Grace Episcopal Church for the last 20 years, to vote for 3 new members of the vestry in an open election of volunteer participants with prior notification and biographical information available for each.

First things first:

...thanks to all of those volunteering for election. This is a trail-blazing opportunity and you are the trailblazers.

...thanks to the current vestry for sponsoring this event at this time in this manner. It is this activist approach to pursuing a new direction that will shape Grace Episcopal Church's future.

The events of the last 1, 5 10 and 20 years have been unprecedented in this church and some of these events have been so outrageous that sometimes it is difficult to put our current situation in perspective. Keep in mind that we are a sizable church:

540 members (or very close to that), including adults and children.

424 voting members, including legal adults, comparable in definition to the voting list assembled by Grace/Nigeria (I think that was 792 total, with 342/370 voting to leave, if you catch my drift...424).

In short, as a sizable church with designs on near-term reoccupation of our traditional digs, we have the ability to accumulate and manage significant financial resources, perhaps more fully realizable when we are home again, but significant, even in exile. Indeed, the diocese may be able to expect big things out of us with such a large count, so the ability to manage financial contributions and expectations will be paramount for the existing and new vestry members. In this context, it might be good to have a response from the prospective vestry members to the following questions:


1. For those who have had prior vestry experience at Grace, what are the necessary changes you are going make about your approach to being a vestry member this time around?

2. How does a vestry member best help promote the financial well-being of the church through promotion, cost-control, etc.?...what kind of vision applies here?

3. At what point do we start making our contribution to the diocese?

4. In what capacity and under what circumstances should the vestry engage other members of the parish in church business?...Is this desirable?

5. What is the vestry's role in getting the priest-in-charge matter settled and when?

6. What can the vestry do to better publicize what they are doing to manage the financial affairs of this church to avoid appearing secretive?...or inactive?

7. How is an activist vestry best achieved?...Is that even desirable?


Please post a response to any or all questions, or even something you would rather talk about at your earliest convenience. If you respond with your name and you are running for the vestry, your comment will be published. I will be reviewing this blog routinely to ensure timely update.

Core Message Reminder from the Bishop of York

Check out this thread for some very interesting discussion on the comments from the Bishop of York concerning the relative importance of the issues before us:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/07/25/nsentamu125.xml


Particularly noteworthy is this comment:

"As long as someone does not deny the very basic doctrines of the Church - the creation, the death, the resurrection of Christ and human beings being made in the image of God - then the rest really helps but they are not the core message.

"And I haven’t found that in Ecusa or in Canada, where I was recently, they have any doubts in their understanding of God which is very different from anybody. What they have quarrelled about is the nature of sexual ethics."

So, this downplay suggests nothing to steal a church over, huh?


Father Jakes's related thread is worth a look, especially in the first half:

http://frjakestopstheworld.blogspot.com/2007/08/andersons-variation-on-godwins-law.html

The Charges Finally Gain Some Traction

The action now moves out of the church and into the criminal courts:

http://www.krcc.org/krccnews/2007/08/springs_police_investigating_r_1.php



Father Jake has better blogging on this than I could ever support here:

http://frjakestopstheworld.blogspot.com/2007/08/police-investigation-of-don-armstrong.html

http://frjakestopstheworld.blogspot.com/2007/08/armstrong-found-guilty-of-theft.html

News Worthy of Awakening this Blog: GUILTY ON ALL COUNTS!!!

Read it here:

http://www.coloradodiocese.org/06_newsandevents/PDFs/ecclesiastical%20trial.pdf


or here:

The Bishop and Diocese of Colorado are grateful to the Ecclesiastical Court of the Diocese for faithfully fulfilling their canonical responsibilities in hearing the case against The Rev. Donald Armstrong involving allegations of misappropriation of church funds.

The preliminary judgment made public today by the five members of the Ecclesiastical Court found unanimously that the Rev. Don Armstrong is guilty on all Counts included in the Motion for Summary Judgment in his case. Those counts are: Count 1 – commission of crimes, including theft of $392,409.93 from Grace Church, and causing Grace Church to issue false W-2s and underreport Armstrong’s income and benefits by $548,097.27; Count 2 – that Armstrong received illegal loans totaling $122,479.16 in violation of Diocesan Canons; Count 3 – unauthorized encumbrance and alienation of Grace Church’s real property; Count 4 – violation of the temporary inhibition placed on Armstrong; Count 5 – the improper use of clergy discretionary funds; and Count 6 – failure to maintain proper books of account.

Last week’s evidentiary hearing before the Ecclesiastical Court is the culmination of a well-defined disciplinary process established by the Canons of the Episcopal Church whereby serious allegations of wrongdoing against any member of the clergy can be thoroughly and impartially investigated, and throughout which the accused has numerous rights and protections. The Ecclesiastical Court—whose members are elected by The Diocesan Convention—functions independently of the Bishop and is governed by the disciplinary laws and processes of the Episcopal Church’s Canons. Those Canons exist to guard the well-being of all members of the church, and when there is wrongdoing to help restore the spiritual and institutional health of the church.

The preliminary judgment issued by the Ecclesiastical Court marks the beginning of a thirty day period during which all parties have an opportunity to respond. At the conclusion of that thirty-day period, the court will issue a final judgment along with recommendations for sentencing to the Bishop. Under the Canons of the Church, it is the Bishop’s responsibility to impose judgment. The Bishop can, at his discretion, lessen the court’s recommended sentence but cannot increase it.


I guess this is what mountain-biking can get you in your absence.

July 31, 2007 Hearing for the Presentment Concerning Rev. Donald Armstrong

The hearing of the Ecclesiastic Trial Court on the matter of the charges listed in the Presentment concerning the Reverend Donald Armstrong is open to the public.

The hearing, which will be held at:

Dagwell Hall, St. John's Cathedral
1350 Washington Avenue, Denver, Colorado

It will start at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 and will include live testimony.

Please use the comment area to organize carpools or coordinate attendance, if you feel okay about leaving contact information on this blog (it would be at your own risk). A great deal can be accomplished through inference, if you are not comfortable with posting such information.

Another CA Ruling in Our Favor

The ground swell continues:

http://frjakestopstheworld.blogspot.com/2007/07/california-court-rules-that-diocese.html

Again, it is only a matter of time.
Can someone show me a ruling in favor of a secessionist group that stands up to appeal, if not a jury?
The CANA/secessionists should not be wasting the time of the El Paso County Commercial Docket.

No Denying It Now

The parish property was officially given to the authority of the Bishop of Colorado in 1929 by the Grace Church corporation.

See this significant historical document at:

http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dc6t4nfc_9w7m4pr

I'll tell you, these attorneys we have are the best.

Speaking of Property...try this well-made argument

Sent in by friends of Grace Episcopal is this link to an article on Episcope:

http://episcopalchurch.typepad.com/episcope/2007/06/control-issues.html#more


Quincy appears to be as misguided as the folks down the street.

CA Court of Appeals overturns property ruling

Check out the following for positive news on the property front:

http://www.standfirminfaith.com/index.php/site/article/3980/


See the actual document here:

http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/opinions/documents/G036096.DOC


In this case a lower court had ruled in favor of a secessionist group, but this ruling was overturned on appeal. I am not posting this because I think that we will need to go through appeal, but because the accumulation of case law in our favor is helped by news like this.

It is only a matter of time.

The Manyoni Orphans Sponsorship Trust...This Issue is Beyond Church Politics

The following is forwarded by Bill Hazelton (Grace Episcopal) from Karl Weiskopf (Grace CANA):

"When Building for Mission, the effort to fund an office building for MOSTRUST the mission to AIDS orphans in Manyoni, Tanzania was being planned, the directors of MOSTRUST USA made the decision to be totally dependent on the Lord to provide the financing for the project. As with the vehicle fund raising in 2006, the need was made known to God’s people and the Lord led them to respond with their donations. The $28,000 original objective for the cost of the building was exceeded in six weeks and contributions are already in for more than half of the $4,200 tax that must be paid at the time of the purchase transaction for a total of $32,200.
.
The office building in Manyoni will enable MOSTRUST to be even more effective in serving the AIDS orphans who come to it for care. The small staff will be able to work more efficiently and will be equipped to process the increasing number of children more effectively. Caregivers and orphan children will be better served because of Building for Mission."


There are additional costs to assume here, such as land rent and insurance, so the work is not done, even if the buiding is covered, so it is time for some perspective:

The MOSTrust beneficiaries are African AIDS orphans, who are not concerned about who is occupying their church or whose child did or did not receive a college stipend.

The primary concern of these young people is survival in a land hostile to such attempts on many fronts, some of which they have all witnessed firsthand as children.

In contribution to MOSTrust, whether it goes to the building or to sponsoring an AIDS-orphaned child or insuring the organization's ability to proceed, you are literally helping the future of Africa through its offspring. Bishop O'Neill quoted a fellow bus rider in South Africa on the AIDS epidemic, who said "My country is dying". Donating to MOSTrust is the kind of assistance we can give to help ensure these young victims will be alive and able to participate in the future of Africa.

We are all aware that there are two Grace's, separated by a number of issues and that Bishop Alpha has congratulated the CANA faction for "walking in the old shoes", perhaps more cognitive of what an old friend is doing than of the scope and reach of the conflict. This means nothing to the orphans who have suffered such overwhelming consequences of the AIDS epidemic in Africa. They need our support independent of the issues we have with one another on other relatively trivial issues. We can put aside our differences to help make a positive change for these young Africans.

That numerous individuals from Grace Episcopal, Grace/CANA and outside of Grace are participating in the MOSTrust sponsorships, the building fund and the effort to cover those costs beyond buying the building is an acknowledgement of the significance of the problem Bishop Alpha has posed to us. Let's see what we can do to take this over the top and to the next level of support...the need we can fill goes way beyond the MOSTrust building.

Thanks to Bill and Karl and all of the MOSTrust participants and also to those who have been considering it, who now realize it is time to engage. Please see the contact link at this URL to do so:

http://www.mostrustusa.org/

MOSTrust is an organization entirely independent of Grace Church in any form and finances are handled separately from either church group.

Actually, We Were Looking for Some Cooperation...

Somewhere, buried in this rant from David Virtue:

http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=6167

is the following claim:

From the DIOCESE OF COLORADO comes the latest word from the Rev. Don Armstrong, rector of Grace Church & St. Stephen's in Colorado Springs.

The petty harassment by Diocesan attorney Martin Nussbaum continues of Grace Church & St. Stephen's.

Nussbaum has so far managed to freeze a scholarship trust fund that has benefited hundred's of parish college students, but now will only be collecting interest until the property issue is settled.

Also frozen at Grace Church is the parish's discretionary fund--which has most recently been used to help families of soldiers from Fort Carson serving in Iraq--little does the bishop care about those who defend his freedom of religious persecution.

The parish rector has been also been forced off the board of Ecumenical Social Ministries by board president and Roman Catholic priest Don Dunn--the diocesan attorney's own pastor.


Three points need to be made here:

1. The scholarship trust is actually an area where we were trying to make cooperative progress with Mr. Armstrong to the benefit of students in both congregations. The whining in this Virtue entry appears to be the best measure of his ability to cooperate at this time. Somehow I do not expect it to get better. Perhaps this shameful attempt to leverage this most generous program is a sign that the end is nearer that we thought.

2. The discretionary fund is the subject of Count 5 in the Presentment, on page ten:

http://www.graceepiscopalcolosprings.org/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/presentment.pdf

and perhaps best left frozen until this matter is settled, since there is a very public issue with how this fund has been handled in the past (i.e., not enough spent on families such as those from Fort Carson serving in Iraq and too much, um,...elsewhere).

3. The feedback I am hearing from the Grace Episcopal clergy is that these new members from Grace on the ESM board are welcome substitutes and that Mr. Armstrong had not been participating in the last few years, anyway. Perhaps such a claim as is seen in the Virtue entry would have some impact if the new members from Grace were not being welcomed so enthusiastically.


Such an attack on Mr. Nussbaum (whose preparation in response to the secessionist claims for property has been exemplary) for the consequences of Mr. Armstrong's own transgressions does not make sense.

Time to get a grip on reality...it is not necessarily being published in the conservative blogs.

Bishop Alpha Checks in on the Split

From the Rift Valley on the front page of the secessionist church site:

http://www.graceandststephens.org/

Please keep Bishop Alpha and his diocese in your prayers.
I believe this does not represent a complete understanding of the situation in Colorado Springs.

Grace Episcopalians...YOU ROCK!

So the vote shows 342 people voting to join CANA...93% of those voting.

What this means is:

1. The boycott was an outstanding success.

2. The CANA population is finally defined to be as small as it is.

other notes:

Of 822 possible voters, only 370 turned out.

2500 people are nowhere to by found in this myth.

Thanks to your powerful and effective cooperation, the truth will be known.

Calling Jimmy Carter!

Friend and member Dr. John Horner has provided this concerning the May 20 vote:

The plebiscite at Grace CANA on May 20-26 to secede from the Episcopal Church raises a number of procedural issues that should be resolved before any fair-minded person could consider it legitimate. Regardless of whether the vote is illegal, as the Diocese of Colorado maintains, what are the procedures in place to insure that the vote itself will be valid?

Will the voting be anonymous? If parishioners are asked to place their names on ballots, will there be a reprisal against those who vote against the secession? What of those who choose not to vote? Even if the vote is anonymous a record of a parishioner’s participation in the vote will likely be kept. Will their non-participation as recorded in the census be taken as opposition to the secession by Armstrong and the vestry?

Who will do the counting? The County’s Clerk and Recorder has been slated to do the counting. But he was part of the vestry that voted to secede from the ECUSA and as such is not an unbiased observer in this process. Regardless of his credentials and his trustworthiness, he cannot be at Grace CANA for the entire week of May 20-26 to register every vote. Both Armstrong and the vestry have already stated that they will leave the church regardless of the outcome. Can either be reasonably considered impartial officials in this process?

Who gets to vote? As was demonstrated in the south before the Voting Rights Act, if you can control who votes, you can determine the outcome of any election. Grace CANA has stated that any member in “good standing may vote.” But who decides who is in good standing? Armstrong in a recent “Grace Tidings” stated that he believed “a real pruning of our parish had become necessary.” As recently as this March, members of the vestry were telling certain members of the parish that they were “no longer welcome at Grace.”—cleansing the parish before the vote to secede. Will there be any additional cleansing of the voter list before the upcoming vote?

How big of a count will be necessary in order for the vote to be considered valid? A plebiscite is a poll of all of the electorate. In the recent past Armstrong has claimed that Grace and St. Stephens is 1500 plus. Does that mean that all 1500 plus congregants must vote? Does that mean that the vestry needs a majority of 750 plus voting for the proposal? What would it mean if such a majority did vote for secession? Are the non-votes counted for the proposal or against it?

The legitimacy of an election process is essential for the governed to be willingly lead. For instance, the recent election in Nigeria was marred by ballot box stuffing and voter intimidation and the outcome of that election threatens to throw Nigeria into civil war. Will the vote at Grace CANA follow the Nigerian model? Or would Don Armstrong and the secessionist vestry employ independent election monitors to insure a valid result?

In the end, one might as well ask, what does it all mean? The reportage coming out of Grace CANA is that the vote is about whether some portion of the congregants will follow Armstrong and the vestry into CANA, taking the church property with them. But the property is under legal dispute and Armstrong himself is under a cloud of suspicion for illegal financial management of the church, and so the vote at Grace is most likely simply moot.

If I still haven't convinced you about the May 20 vote...

Let's look at some of the parameters defining the May 20 "vote" scheduled by the secessionist group illegally occupying the facility at 631 N. Tejon Street.

"Voting will begin on May 20th and continue for six days, through Saturday, May. 26th. All voting will be done in person, much like voting in an election. Parish members in good standing will present themselves, with ID, to a teller in the parish office, except on Sunday in the Great Hall, and, if properly registered as a communicant, will be allowed to cast a secret ballot voting to stay in the Anglican Communion or walk apart with The Episcopal Church. Results will be announced in church on May 27th. Times for voting are listed below:

Sunday, May 29th - 8:00AM to 1:00PM (Taft Hall - excluding worship times)
Monday, May 21st - 12:00PM to 6:00PM (McWilliams House)
Tuesday, May 22nd - 12:00PM to 6:00PM (McWilliams House)
Wednesday, May 23rd - 12:00PM to 6:00PM (McWilliams House)
Thursday, May 24th - 12:00PM to 6:00PM (McWilliams House)
Friday, May 25th - 12:00PM to 6:00PM (McWilliams House)
Saturday, May 26th - 9:00AM to 1:00PM (McWilliams House)"

This procedure is taken from the recently mailed May/June Nigerian Tidings (not to be confused with the Online Tidings published by Grace and St. Stephens Episcopal Church).


A careful reading of the procedure shows that nearly anyone not in favor with Nigeria can be easily excluded or results of their vote ensured:

1. "Members in good standing..."
This may require that you continued to contribute to the secessionist church after the vestry vote.
In the Episcopal Church, it means regular attendance, so participation matters, but CANA may define this differently, especially considering the Grace Concerns group pledge withholding.

2. "...if properly registered as a communicant..."
This was described by Jon Wrobleski in the Mar. 14th (Saturday) meeting to require re-registration as an Anglican.
He did not describe what this entailed and I am at a loss to understand what it means. otherwise. As an Episcopalian, you are already an Anglican.

3. "...cast a secret ballot..."
It appears that the secrecy may be in the results.
Now, Bob Balink will apparently be doing the counting, he voted with the former vestry to secede to CANA. This is not an independent monitor.
The arrangement is reminiscent of past vestry elections involving nominations from the floor, subject to secret ballot vote.

The sum total of all of these requirements may be that you must be donating to CANA, even if you disagree with the proposed association with this organization, you must have somehow re-registered as an Anglican, even though, as an Episcopalian, you are already an Anglican, and even if you manage to accomplish all of this without compromising your principles, you must accept the result of your participation without independent audit or public acknowledgment of each vote.

We need to face the fact that the secessionist group illegally occupying the 631 N. Tejon facility has already determined current property control and access.
The May 20 vote is merely a procedure by which those parishioners who wish to join them can be identified.
The result was determined on March 26 when the former vestry voted to leave The Episcopal Church and join CANA.
Any "vote" activity is merely window dressing designed to demonstrate the validity of the vestry action, no matter what the actual result of the poll of the parishioners.
The vestry and clergy aligned with CANA have already shown they cannot be trusted.
You are urged to boycott the illegal vote so this activity is not validated with your participation.

Link to Recent Press Conference by Peter Akinola

Archbishop Akinola tells us how he really feels:


http://anglicanfuture.blogspot.com/2007/05/archbishop-mongers-hate-fish.html

[Steel shorts required?]

Time to Get Serious About the May 20 Vote

May 20 marks the first day of voting at 631 N. Tejon Street to determine if you, as an individual, would like to join the secessionist group in their move to join CANA, already a fact in law for the vestry and clergy who have broken away.

There have been a number of common questions concerning this activity, like:

"Shouldn't Episcopalians make a point of demonstrating their opposition?"
or
"Shouldn't we vote to show how we really feel?"
or
"How can we let them get away with this?"
or
"It's my church, too...I can't stand by and do nothing!"

All are reasonable questions with a heartfelt sentiment that is difficult to deny.

Nonetheless...

Perhaps it is time to rejoice in our Episcopal congregation, independent of its location, for it is a truly remarkable group of people who come together every week to celebrate being Christian in spite of other adversity.

Perhaps it is time to show confidence in our bishop, our vestry and the great legal mind we have on our side and understand that a great effort is underway to return us to our proper venue...all in good time (and not requiring any "vote").

Perhaps it is time to enjoy the nature of the sermons and the announcements we are hearing every week, free of the judgment of one man on other people, and, instead, full of hope and joy concerning our possibilities.

It occurred to me that most of us with the Episcopal Church have been members of Grace Church for a long time, so, in light of the fact that we have been enjoying life without certain former participants, why did we not leave sooner instead of having to be forced out by the secessionist vestry action?

The answer is that we went to church at 631 N. Tejon to see each other, week after week, knowing that it was this common participation where we found Christ, where we rejoiced in each other, and where the real church existed for us.

Is it no wonder, then, that we can all simply "walk through the door", as Bishop O'Neill characterized it (albeit at a different address) and continue to put on a familiar service with the splendid liturgy, music and other production without missing any elements?...that our children continue to receive the finest of attention in "Godly play" and music?...that our acolytes, ushers, lectors, chalice-bearers, transport-providers, altar guide, hospitality group and program makers, ever mindful that they are on borrowed ground, continue to help us understand what being a Christian is all about?...that pastoral care continues and Youth Group is rising, and other programs are coming, limited only by our tactical cleverness?

I was reminded earlier this week that our responsibility is, as "Fr. David in Security said it, living up to Grace Episcopal Church's name". For this reason, and because Grace Episcopal Church deserves better, I urge you not to participate in the May 20 vote. Instead, let us join in our own service and activities on May 20 at First Christian Church. I guarantee you will go home feeling better about your church and about yourself.

More about CANA from Emily Kline

Emily Kline sent a letter recently (see here, note that I have removed her phone number) urging members of the pre-split congregation at Grace and St. Stephens Episcopal Church to vote for association with CANA. Some things to remember:

Emily is no longer a vestry person according to the Diocese of Colorado.

The vote is regarded as illegal and of no consequence by our vestry, our attorney and the Diocese of Colorado.

We will be looking for a show of support in our attendance on Sunday May 20 at First Christian Church. Please show your support that way.

And now for your blogging pleasure...

If regularly visiting blog sites like Virtueonline, Standfirm and Titusonenine is getting you down, maybe feeling a little tired, not feel like leaving a comment, reminding you too much of the way things used to be, cheering too much for the bad guys, never fear for these sites can help make your day:


http://www.episcopalcafe.com/
The Episcopal Cafe
General purpose "positive" side.
Check out Jim Naughton for particularly interesting comments.
Use "The Lead" link to get started.


http://episcopalchurch.typepad.com/episcope/
Episcope
Straightorward treatment of news concerning Episcopalians.


http://frjakestopstheworld.blogspot.com/
Father Jake Stops the World
A bit more radiclib, but a great rewrite of Don McLean's "American Pie".
Get it?..."pie"


http://revjph.blogspot.com/
The Mad Priest
Over the top...quite a bit of English humor here.
This one has some hilarious postings, like these puns (hopefully it is still accessible):

http://revjph.blogspot.com/2007/05/of-course-it-missed-him-it-was-humble.html


Note the numerous links on these blogs to other blogs.
You can waste the whole day on this stuff!

Anybody got another?...let me know about it!


Addendum:

Lest we forget, a significant local blog which is cited in some of the national ones, has been hosted by former local journalist Paul Asay:

http://gazettereligion.blogspot.com/
Faith at Altitude

Godspeed, Paul...our best wishes are with you.

Youth! Group!

Youth Group: Sunday, April 29 at 430PM;
Location: 1523 N Tejon.
Please contact Jim Hinkle via email for more information:

jlhinks@msn.com

from Jim:

Our first youth group meeting will be this Sunday, 4/29 at 4:30, at my house, 1523 North Tejon.

I am hoping to have Deacon Sally there as well for this first meeting.

Send Jim your interest in an email response so we can start to get a youth mail list together.

To vote May 20 or not...

The position of the Episcopal Church is that the parish vote, sponsored by the secessionist vestry, to join CANA is an illegal action and has no recognized validity. It is suggested that Episcopalians have no interest in this participation because the real estate issues will be handled in the courts, and we have a historical continuity as Grace Episcopal Church that has been established by the Bishop of the Colorado diocese and with the creation of a new vestry.

As suggested by Anonymous:

We need to thank the other generous churches in the community who have shared processional crosses, torches, acolyte robes, communion chalices, palms for Palm Sunday, communion wafers, invitations to join them for Maundy Thursday, and their love and prayers. The list is endless. Without them we never could have done it.

New Vestry Apppointments Anounced

At the April 15, 2007 service held at Shove Chapel, Dr. Tim Fuller announced that The following additional vestry members had been appointed by our only surviving vestryman, Dr. Robert McJimsey, with the approval of Bishop O'Neill:

Clelia deMoraes
Amy Duell
Helen Hazelton
Tim Fuller
David Watts

Note that Fuller and Watts are former vestry members of Grace Church.

To Attend Apr. 14 or not...

The biggest choice parishioners have to make is to attend or avoid the parish meeting on Saturday. If Don Armstrong's comments on TitusOneNine are an indication, it will have to be a very tightly controlled meeting to keep from getting out of hand.