The people of Christ Church, Harris, announced today that they can no longer remain under the oversight of the bishop of Argyll and the Isles, the Right Reverend Kevin Pearson. This follows his decision to support the change to the canons of the Scottish Episcopal Church (SEC) which introduced the innovation of same-sex marriage.
At a meeting with Bishop Pearson, they explained their decision and asked if the Scottish Episcopal Church would keep the church they have built and the money they have given. The bishop insisted that the SEC would retain all assets. In response the congregation made it clear that they would walk away rather than submit to a decision which departs from scripture, tradition and the teaching of Jesus Christ,
The people of Christ Church will maintain a faithful Anglican witness on Harris under the oversight of the Right Reverend Andy Lines, who was consecrated as a missionary bishop for Europe in June and who will act under the authority of the GAFCON primates. They will also be supported by other churches in Scotland which are part of the Scottish Anglican Network, as well as churches around the world.
The priest-in-charge of Christ Church, the Reverend Daniel Davies wrote this at the end of his letter of explanation to the bishop:
“The Church is not a “people’s democratic republic” run by the Synod, however much you and other bishops of this church think it is. It is a Kingdom, with one Lord. It appears to me as your priest, that you are in denial of what you have done, which is to reject the authority of Christ your King, in favour of your own. The Scottish Episcopal Church has made itself its own republic, following its own teaching, and its own laws. It is now, therefore, outside the Kingdom. For those of us who wish to remain loyal to the King, the only appropriate response is to shake the dust from our shoes and leave.”
