A short statement

As you may know, I have left the CEC with plans on entering the Antiochian Orthodox Church Western Rite Vicariate. A summary of my reasons follows.

I have been in the CEC for 16 1/2 years, since April 1993. It was joyous for us in the beginning and we have loved the CEC. It has been our congregation. But being a church planter in the CEC has been difficult. Having spent the better part of 10 years trying to plant churches in the CEC I have just reached the end of my capacity to continue. We have endured years of lack of structure, isolation, discouragement, lack of support, instability (personal and denominational), and financial sacrifice. I cannot blame the structure, I can only look at my own decisions, take responsibility and move on. I cannot repeat the same kinds of decisions.

In October I experienced what appeared to all as a heart attack. Fortunately I am well and we found no problems. But it stopped me in my tracks and caused me to re-evaluate everything. I made this known to my Bishop. I simply reached the conclusion that for the sake of my health (I don't want to experience that again in 5 years for real!), my family and those I minister to, I needed to make decisions that would create more stability in my life and ministry.

Secondarily to these issues are a few theological ones. The theological tension reflected in the positions of the CEC are no longer tenable for me. For my part I cannot honestly be catholic and hold myself in protest. One can look over this blog and the entries over the past several years and understand my struggle over the issues, that they have been long and fair. I have vacillated back and forth and I had to put this to rest.

I do not believe Eastern Orthodoxy is a perfect world. I am exchanging one set of issues for another. But I am also exchanging one set of theological tensions for a place of virtually no tension, on identity or ecclesiology (ok maybe one or two minor issues). I am making a compromise in matters of aesthetics, not on dogma.