Episcopal Church expelling one of its orthodox priests
Religion Today, May 24, 2000
The Episcopal Church is expelling a theologically orthodox priest at a time when one of its bishops, John Spong, continues to deny essential Christian beliefs.
The Diocese of Southwestern Virginia notified R. Quigg Lawrence, a Roanoke, Va., pastor, by fax May 23 that he is about to be officially expelled, or deposed, from the Episcopal Church USA.
The congregation where Lawrence is rector, Church of the Holy Spirit, is already out of the denomination. It left this spring and joined the conservative Diocese of Rwanda, Africa. Lawrence says the congregation was “asked to leave and then forced to leave.” The diocese says the church “abandoned the communion” and left of its own accord.
Lawrence personally targeted
The new action by the diocese is against Lawrence personally. It removes his authorization to preach, lead worship, or perform weddings for six months in churches affiliated with the Episcopal Church.
Bishop Neff Powell warned Lawrence in an accompanying letter that, “If you do not make retraction or denial as provided, it is my intention to depose you,” making the sanctions permanent. Deposing a priest is highly unusual in the Episcopal Church.
Lawrence will continue to act as pastor of Church of the Holy Spirit outside of any affiliation with the local diocese. The congregation draws as many as 750 people for three weekend services, more than any parish in the diocese in terms of attendance, Lawrence said. The Episcopal Church has steadily declined in membership.
Foundation owns property
The deed to the church property is held by an independent foundation that is not controlled by the congregation, Lawrence said, so it will not be turned over to the diocese.
Even before his threatened expulsion, Lawrence had become a pariah in the denomination, and last month was denied permission to officiate at a wedding on Long Island, N.Y.
The dispute is a microcosm of the liberal-conservative split in the worldwide Anglican Communion.
Over the weekend, Episcopal cleric John Spong, a retired bishop from New Jersey who denigrates many orthodox Christian doctrines, reiterated his views on CBS-TV’s 60 Minutes news program.
Also appearing were James Stanton, the Episcopal bishop of Dallas and president of the American Anglican Council, and Diane Knippers, president of the conservative Institute on Religion & Democracy.
The fact that Spong is allowed to remain in the church is “a matter of great shame for me,” Knippers told Religion Today.
The Church of the Holy Spirit joined the Episcopal Church of Rwanda in March after severing its ties with the Episcopal Church USA because of longstanding disagreements with its policies and actions. The congregation, which describes itself as evangelical, says its basic disagreement with the diocese is over the authority of Scripture.