247th Chapter Meeting

The history of the Congregational Church began in reform.  As the Anglican Church began reverting to Roman Catholic practices and doctrines, congregations in England began to cling to the original Cramner Book of Common Worship which was the original Book of Worship based largely on the Lutheran Book of Worship (Buch um Anbeten).   As the monarchs of England gained more power than the bishops on matters of faith and doctrine the congregations demanding reform then moved to Plymouth, England when uniting with the Anglicans became impossible.

As the New World was settled by these "Puritans" communities in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey were built around their churches.  Among them Boston, Barnstable, Philadelphia, Trenton, Montpelier, and Dover.  Over time congregations grew into what is now the Congregational Churches.  In the coming annual chapter meeting planned for February 18 to 21 in Carrollton, TX, there is a need in the Episcopal Church USA for reform and these congregations are looking to the Congregational Churches for unity.

The main cause of separation for many Episcopalians today is the ordination of openly homosexual people to not only the ministry but also to consecration as bishops.  While the Congregational Church will not preach to the hierarchy of any denomination on how their confession should be run, the Congregational Church is open to unity with ministers, laity, and bishops who wish to unite with us in our call to minister, preach, and celebrate faith in Jesus Christ.

This means some exciting changes may lay ahead for us.  Our congregations are considering uniting under the new titles Independent Episcopal Church or Reformed Anglican Confession or Plenary Episcopal (Anglican) Church.  All terms carry important identity for our churches.  All of us are episcopal as we have bishops who support local clergy.  All churches are Anglican in that England is the birth place of our confessions.  All of our churches are plenary in that we are united and we are completely franchised to run our individual churches by laity consent with their pastors.

As we enter Lent and as we face uniting with congregations that seek reconciliation to the gospel of Christ we must all pray for the changes ahead.  I shall be attending the meetings with a spirit of prayer and discernment.

I wish to thank all who donated to our Sunday collection for River of Life Homes for Battered Women.  We collected $120 and we also donated a new laptop computer to them.  Thank all of you so very much.  Be assured of my prayers for you all and I ask your prayers for myself, Itsuko, and Monica.  May the Lord continue to bless us all.