A PARISH in south London has split over the introduction of blessings for same-sex couples: one priest has left the Church of England, while the opposite stays, supported by the organisation the Alliance.
On Wednesday, the Vicar of Christ Church, Surbiton Hill, the Revd John Shepherd, told the Church Times that about half of the congregation of a daughter church, Emmanuel Church, Tolworth, had opted to affix a latest church-plant.
The Associate Vicar who led the church, the Revd Bart Erlebach, resigned from the C of E in August, and can lead a latest church along with an area independent church and the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches (FIEC).
Christ Church, and Emmanuel Church, Tolworth, have a shared PCC, and the vast majority of the Emmanuel members on the body were in favour of leaving the C of E, Mr Shepherd said.
There were, though, a “good number” of the congregation who were staying on the parish and continuing the witness of the church, he said, which might have a good time the ninetieth anniversary of its establishment next 12 months.
Mr Erlebach told the Church Times that he “couldn’t in conscience remain under the authority of the Bishops once they agreed to the usage of the Prayers of Love and Faith (PLF). It was a difficult and painful realisation.”
He said that the chance to plant an independent church “represents not only a way for those from Emmanuel who wanted to depart the Church of England to accomplish that, but in addition an important mission opportunity, as we might be planting into an area where there are not any churches meeting”.
Mr Shepherd said that he had “much sympathy” with Mr Erlebach. “I share most of the same concerns in regards to the PLF process and trajectory of the Church of England that the Bishops have led us in,” he said.
The two priests had, though, “taken different conscience decisions about our place within the Church of England, and have chosen to try to model a respect and love for each other, and encouraged those at Emmanuel to do the identical, as some select to depart and others to remain”, Mr Shepherd said.
He said that he had chosen to stay within the C of E, together with a “good number” of the congregation at Emmanuel, but has signed up as a member of Alliance: an organisation that has emerged in opposition to the introduction of blessings for same-sex couples consequently of the Living in Love and Faith (LLF) process.
Mr Erlebach said that he respected those that were staying within the C of E, and supported the work of the Church of England Evangelical Council (CEEC), but felt that the steps that it had taken to ascertain a de facto “parallel province” were “not sufficient for me, as by necessity it might mean remaining in my current province and under my current Bishops”.
A spokesperson for the diocese of Southwark said that the diocesan Bishop, the Rt Revd Christopher Chessun, had “accepted Bart’s resignation with some sadness after it was tendered in August this 12 months.
“We recognise and respect that Bart is responding with integrity to his theological convictions, and as a Diocese we remain committed to speaking well of one another where convictions differ. Bart leaves his role with assurance of our prayers and good wishes, and gratitude for the 15 years he has served the community of religion at Emmanuel, Tolworth.
“We will, along with the incumbent of the parish, support and work with those members of the congregation who’ve chosen to stay, as they proceed to serve God in Tolworth.”
