This story was printed in the Charlotte Observer this morning.
"After more than 100 years in three locations in Charlotte, St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church closed and ended services on Central Avenue last week.While I am not familiar with their situation, I am familiar with the image below,
While the immediate cause was financial, a spokesman for the Raleigh-based North Carolina diocese as well as the leader of the church-elected vestry said internal conflict that has roiled the church for several years contributed to the decision." (Read the rest here).
"Unfortunately, membership also had dwindled, with as few as 40 or 50 people attending on many Sundays."That is still in keeping with a fair number of Episcopal congregations.
What is interesting is that there might have been some financial hanky panky which caused a new rector to be installed in 2011,
"A longtime priest had to be placed on administrative leave several years ago after mishandling church money, although criminal charges weren’t filed. A new rector, the Rev. Leslie Burkhardt, was called in December 2011..While Burkhardt had supporters within the church, some members of the congregation had trouble working with her and that made things worse..."It also sounds like the diocese stepped in and closed them down.
Another one bites the dust.
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Very sad. We were married in this church 35 years ago, and my mom and youngest sister attended it for more than 40 years until the doors were closed last Sunday. I visited it often with my mom and loved the warmth and diversity of the congregation. They would pass the peace across and down the aisles until they were called back to their seats. You couldn't find more loving and caring and open people! It was my very favorite church. I hope that the diocese finds a way to reopen it.
ReplyDeleteThe Diocese could experiment and send in an orthodox evangelical priest and open a mission church.
DeleteI wouldn't expect them to do that because most TEc dioceses are afraid to bring such creatures into their fold.