Anglican Priests fired...

On March 25th an Anglican bishop in Florida fired 22 priests, the largest single group of priests to be deposed in Anglican history. The Rt. Rev. Samuel Johnson Howard issued the official announcement in which he stated: "By my action today, with the advice and the consent of the Standing Committee of the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Florida, and pursuant to Canon IV.10.2.ii, I hereby release from the obligations of priests (for causes which do not affect the person's moral character) and deprive of the right to exercise the gifts and spiritual authority conferred in ordination upon:

The Rev. David C. Allert, Priest
The Rev. Charles S. Bailey, Deacon
The Rev. Gary Blaylock, Priest
The Rev. Charles H. Colt, Priest
The Rev. Gilbert T. Crosby, Priest
The Rev. Mark Eldredge, Priest
The Rev. Travis Greenman, Priest
The Rev. Edwin C. Griswold, Priest
The Rev. George W. Hall, Jr., Priest
The Rev. Harald K. Haugan, Priest
The Rev. Dorothy Head, Deacon
The Rev. James L. Hobby, Priest
The Rev. Sharon S. Hobby, Priest
The Rev. W. Hall Hunt, Priest
The Rev. Neil G. Lebhar, Priest
The Rev. Petrina A. McCarty, Deacon
The Rev. Lawrence E. O'Connell, Priest
The Rev. William Earl Palmer, Priest
The Rev. James M. Parker, Priest
The Rev. Shawn E. Porter, Priest
The Rev. Leonard Eugene Strickland,Priest
The Rev. George W. Stockhowe, Jr., Priest

The formal charge brought against these 22 clergymen (sic) was "abandonment of the communion" - meaning that they have removed themselves from fellowship with the larger Anglican community. Interestingly, this is the very charge made against the American Anglican church itself! All of the above priests challenged the Episcopal Church on pansexuality and the church's ordination of an avowed homosexual to the episcopacy, the formal acceptance of homosexual behavior for clergy, the blessing of same sex unions, same-sex rites, and the abandonment of the authority of Scripture. They believed the church had moved beyond the bounds of Scripture to endorse behavior that endangered their souls and those of their parishioners. Furthermore, this is a clear departure from the church's historic position regarding sexuality and sinfulness.

In the book of Philippians, the Apostle Paul describes former ministers who have departed from the faith and who "glory in their shame"-- an apt description of the American Anglican church. Praise God for men and women of faith who love God's people and love God's word.