USA Synod Chapter Directives

After the USA Synod chapter meeting in Plymouth, MA; there are to be some changes.  We shall end our 501 (c) 3 status and simply become an independent organization.  The non-profit status of churches is being manipulated by the government to force churches to practice ungodly and unholy practices that are contrary to the gospel.  As a church we must refuse to offer insurance that includes abortion on demand.  We must also deny and refuse to incorporate homosexuals onto our church boards in the name of "tolerance".  This is why the 510 (c) 3 charters of the Congregational Episcopal Churches are being directed to be abolished and the churches run as simple independent organizations.

Donations must be made in the name of our pastor, Rev. Werner Stradlater.  Pastor will then distribute the donations as needed in Highland Meadows Church, and pay taxes on the full as income.  The church property will be incorporated between Pastor and the USA Synod with property taxes being paid.  This will take effect May 18, 2014 when our nonprofit status expires.

Again, this is the only true solution to ending proposed governmental meddling in the affairs of churches.

Our former pastor, Bishop Daniel Rea is having success with the mission in Nagoya, Japan.  Please keep Bishop Rea and his wife, Deacon Itsuko Rea, in your prayers.

Highland Meadows Church 

Meet Our New Pastor

New Pastor, Rev. Werner Stradlater

Hello folks I am the new pastor for Highland Meadows Church and Miyazaki Ministries.  My name is Werner Stradlater and I have been the associate pastor here since September 2011 when Rev. Daniel founded the church and ministry.  We shall still minister to the Japanese Christians and the homeless here in Dallas.

I am originally from Birmingham, Alabama.  I graduated from Southeastern Baptist Seminary and then studied Japanese and Japanese Religions at Sophia University in Tokyo, Japan.  My wife Chieko and I welcome you and hope to see you all soon.  Please come, rest, and heal at our church.

Presbyter Daniel and Deacon Itsuko shall have a farewell service with a reception to follow December 29 at 5 pm.  The service will be in Japanese with communion.  Hope to see you all there as we say farewell and wish Presbyter and his wife the best with their new mission in Nagoya, Japan.

Presbyter Daniel and Deacon Itsuko leave DFW for Nagoya on January 7 at 11 am.  We shall have a final blessing for them at 7 am at Highland Meadows Church as they leave.  

Important Announcements

Dear brothers and sisters:

Our ministry here in Dallas is about to come to full bloom.  With this comes bearing fruit and after that it is time to graft from this fruit bearing tree to a new soil.  After the New Year I shall be going to Japan to found a mission of the Puritan Church there.  While our time here was short we accomplished much.  We have a church that shall be led by a very competent pastor of your choosing.  We have ministered to battered women and their children.  We have reached out to the homeless and to the lonely.  We shall continue to do so.  I shall do so in Japan and you shall continue here.

Itsuko is progressing in hear deacon studies.  She read the gospel this morning and is almost ready to assist at the Table of the Lord, and to preach her first sermon.  Itsuko has the heart of a true humble servant of the Lord.

The Missions Office in Washington DC is drafting the mission charter for Japan.  The preliminary working name is The Protestant Christian Church of Japan (日本プロテスタントクリスチャン教会).  I shall be consecrated Presbyter November 9 and shall be fully responsible for the mission in Japan as it begins to grow.  Itsuko shall be more than able to assist in our ministry to both the Japanese and expat communities in Nagoya.

We shall not be without helpers in the vineyard.  Rev. Takeshi Amazawa of Tokyo Baptist Church shall be advising on church planting in Japan.  In all there shall be challenges and unexpected problems but how they are handled shall be the difference.  So long as Itsuko and I stay faithful to the Lord, help one another, and be of comfort to those in need then all shall work out to the greater glory of God.

As our Puritan forefathers braved ocean, New World, and famine they clung to the phrase Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam - All for the greater glory of God.

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.

Articles of Faith

Article I—Of Faith in the Holy Trinity

There is one living and true God, everlasting, of infinite power, wisdom, and goodness; the maker and preserver of all things, both visible and invisible. And in unity of this Godhead there are three persons, of one substance, power, and eternity—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Article II—Of the Word, or Son of God, Who Was Made Very Man

The Son, Jesus the Christ, who is the Word of the Father, the very and eternal God, of one substance with the Father, took man's nature in the womb of the blessed Virgin; so that two whole and perfect natures, that is to say, the Godhead and Manhood, were joined together in one person, never to be divided; whereof is one Christ, very God and very Man, who truly suffered, was crucified, died, and buried, to reconcile his Father to us, and to be a sacrifice, not only for original guilt, but also for actual sins of men.

Article III—Of the Resurrection of Christ

Christ did truly rise again from the dead, and took again his body, with all things appertaining to the perfection of man's nature, wherewith he ascended into heaven, and there sits until he return to judge all men at the last day.

Article IV—Of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit, proceeding from the Father and the Son, is of one substance, majesty, and glory with the Father and the Son, very and eternal God.

Article V—Of the Sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures for Salvation

The Holy Scriptures contains all things necessary to salvation; so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man that it should be believed as an article of faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation. In the name of the Holy Scripture we do understand those canonical books of the Old and New Testament of whose authority was never any doubt in the church. The names of the canonical books are:

Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, The First Book of Samuel, The Second Book of Samuel, The First Book of Kings, The Second Book of Kings, The First Book of Chronicles, The Second Book of Chronicles, The Book of Ezra, The Book of Nehemiah, The Book of Esther, The Book of Job, The Psalms, The Proverbs, Ecclesiastes or the Preacher, Cantica or Songs of Solomon, Four Prophets the Greater, Twelve Prophets the Less.

All the books of the New Testament, as they are commonly received, we do receive and account canonical.

Article VI—Of the Old Testament

The Old Testament is not contrary to the New; for both in the Old and New Testament everlasting life is offered to mankind by Christ, who is the only Mediator between God and man, being both God and Man. Wherefore they are not to be heard who feign that the old fathers did look only for transitory promises. Although the law given from God by Moses as touching ceremonies and rites doth not bind Christians, nor ought the civil precepts thereof of necessity be received in any commonwealth; yet notwithstanding, no Christian whatsoever is free from the obedience of the commandments which are called moral.

Article VII—Of Original or Birth Sin

Original sin is the corruption of the nature of every man, that naturally is engendered of the offspring of Adam, whereby man is very far gone from original righteousness, and of his own nature inclined to evil, and that continually.

Article VIII—Of Free Will

The condition of man after the fall of Adam is such that he cannot turn and prepare himself, by his own natural strength and works, to faith, and calling upon God; wherefore we have no power to do good works, pleasant and acceptable to God, without the grace of God by Christ preventing us, that we may have a good will, and working with us, when we have that good will.  All people are immeasurably free to accept Jesus the Lord as savior, and likewise are free not to accept the Lord.  God makes no measure of force for decision but gives freedom for all to choose, and also gives freedom to choose good over evil.

Article IX—Of the Justification of Man

We are accounted righteous before God only for the merit of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, by faith, and not for our own works or deserving. Wherefore, that we are justified by faith, only, is a most wholesome doctrine, and very full of comfort.

Article X—Of Good Works

Although good works, which are the fruits of faith, and follow after justification, cannot put away our sins, and endure the severity of God's judgment; yet are they pleasing and acceptable to God in Christ, and spring out of a true and lively faith, insomuch that by them a lively faith may be as evidently known as a tree is discerned by its fruit.

Article XI—Of Works of Supererogation

Voluntary works—besides, over and above God's commandments—which they call works of supererogation, cannot be taught without arrogancy and impiety. For by them men do declare that they do not only render unto God as much as they are bound to do, but that they do more for his sake than of bounden duty is required; whereas Christ saith plainly: When you have done all that is commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants.

Article XII—Of Sin After Justification

Not every sin willingly committed after justification is the sin against the Holy Ghost, and unpardonable. Wherefore, the grant of repentance is not to be denied to such as fall into sin after justification. After we have received the Holy Ghost, we may depart from grace given, and fall into sin, and, by the grace of God, rise again and amend our lives. And therefore they are to be condemned who say they can no more sin as long as they live here; or deny the place of forgiveness to such as truly repent.

The thought of "Once saved, eternally saved" is repugnant to scripture and is disproven in the Epistles of the Apostle Paul.  One ought to always remember that salvation is to fostered every day by being mindful of ones thoughts, speech, and actions.  Our salvation and forgiveness of sins was purchased by the Lord Jesus on Calvary by his blood.  One must reconcile with those sinned against and with the church in public confession before celebrating Communion (the Lord's Supper) to be pardoned and capable of receiving the gifts of God which are given freely by the church and its ministers, and thus be forgiven by the Lord Jesus.  This is scriptural sound doctrine and is the basis of reconciliation preached first by the prophets, then by the Lord Jesus, and finally by His apostles.

Article XIII—Of the Church

The visible church of Christ is a congregation of faithful men in which the pure Word of God is preached, and the Sacraments duly administered according to Christ's ordinance, in all those things that of necessity are requisite to the same.

Article XIV—Of Purgatory

The Roman Catholic doctrine concerning purgatory, pardon, worshiping, and adoration, as well of images as of relics, and also invocation of saints, is a fond thing, vainly invented, and grounded upon no warrant of Scripture, but repugnant to the Word of God.  All who are saved are "saints" and none are given higher merit in God's kingdom apart from the twelve Apostles.  This is testified to by the Lord Jesus and by the Book of Revelation.

Article XV—Of Speaking in the Congregation in Such a Tongue as the People Understand

It is a thing plainly repugnant to the Word of God, and the custom of the primitive church, to have public prayer in the church, or to minister the sacraments, in a tongue not understood by the people.

Article XVI—Of the Sacraments

Sacraments ordained of Christ are not only badges or tokens of Christian men's profession, but rather they are certain signs of grace, and God's good will toward us, by which he doth work invisibly in us, and doth not only quicken, but also strengthen and confirm, our faith in him.

There are two Sacraments ordained of Christ our Lord in the Gospel; that is to say, Baptism and the Supper of the Lord.

Those five commonly called sacraments, that is to say, confirmation, penance, orders, matrimony, and extreme unction, are not to be counted for Sacraments of the Gospel; being such as have partly grown out of the corrupt following of the apostles, and partly are states of life allowed in the Scriptures, but yet have not the like nature of Baptism and the Lord's Supper, because they have not any visible sign or ceremony ordained of God.

The Sacraments were not ordained of Christ to be gazed upon, or to be carried about; but that we should duly use them. And in such only as worthily receive the same, they have a wholesome effect or operation; but they that receive them unworthily, purchase to themselves condemnation, as St. Paul saith.

Article XVII—Of Baptism

Baptism is not only a sign of profession and mark of difference whereby Christians are distinguished from others that are not baptized; but it is also a sign of regeneration or the new birth. The Baptism of young children is to be retained in the Church.

Article XVIII—Of the Lord's Supper

The Supper of the Lord is not only a sign of the love that Christians ought to have among themselves one to another, but rather is a sacrament of our redemption by Christ's death; insomuch that, to such as rightly, worthily, and with faith receive the same, the bread which we break is a partaking of the body of Christ; and likewise the cup of blessing is a partaking of the blood of Christ as a memorial.  The bread and wine are symbolically the body and blood of the Lord.

Transubstantiation, or the change of the substance of bread and wine in the Supper of our Lord, cannot be proved by Holy Writ, but is repugnant to the plain words of Scripture, overthrows the nature of a sacrament, and hath given occasion to many superstitions.

The body of Christ is given, taken, and eaten in the Supper, only after a heavenly and spiritual symbol. And the mean whereby the body of Christ is received and eaten in the Supper is faith.

The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper was not by Christ's ordinance reserved, carried about, lifted up, or worshiped.

Article XIX—Of Both Kinds

The cup of the Lord is not to be denied to the lay people; for both the parts of the Lord's Supper, by Christ's ordinance and commandment, ought to be administered to all Christians alike.

Article XX—Of the One Oblation of Christ, Finished upon the Cross

The offering of Christ, once made, is that perfect redemption, propitiation, and satisfaction for all the sins of the whole world, both original and actual; and there is none other satisfaction for sin but that alone. Wherefore the sacrifice of masses, in the which it is commonly said that the priest doth offer Christ for the quick and the dead, to have remission of pain or guilt, is a blasphemous fable and dangerous deceit.

Article XXI—Of the Marriage of Ministers

The ministers of Christ are not commanded by God's law either to vow the estate of single life, or to abstain from marriage; therefore it is lawful for them, as for all other Christians, to marry at their own discretion, as they shall judge the same to serve best to godliness.

Article XXII—Of the Rites and Ceremonies of Churches

It is not necessary that rites and ceremonies should in all individual church congregations be the same, or exactly alike; for they have been always different, and may be changed according to the diversity of communities, times, and men's manners, so that nothing be ordained against God's Word. Whosoever, through his private judgment, willingly and purposely doth openly break the rites and ceremonies of the church to which he belongs, which are not repugnant to the Word of God, and are ordained and approved by common authority of pastors, deacons, and lay elders, ought to be rebuked openly, that others may fear to do the like, as one that offendeth against the common order of the church, and woundeth the consciences of weak brethren.

Every particular church may ordain, change, or abolish rites and ceremonies, so that all things may be done to edification of the lay faithful.

Article XXIII—Of the Rulers of the United States of America

The President, the Congress, the general assemblies, the governors, and the councils of state, as the delegates of the people, are the rulers of the United States of America, according to the division of power made to them by the Constitution of the United States and by the constitutions of their respective states. And the said states are a sovereign and independent nation, and ought not to be subject to any foreign jurisdiction.  Our church shall make every effort not to impede on the sovereignty of the state as we expect not to be impeded in our faithful duties by the state. 

Article XXIV—Of Christian Men's Goods

The riches and goods of Christians are not common as touching the right, title, and possession of the same, as some do falsely boast. Notwithstanding, every man ought, of such things as he possesseth, liberally to give alms to the poor, according to his ability.

Article XXV—Of a Christian Man's Oath

As we confess that vain and rash swearing is forbidden Christian men by our Lord Jesus Christ and James his apostle, so we judge that the Christian religion doth not prohibit, but that a man may swear when the magistrate requireth, in a cause of faith and charity, so it be done according to the prophet's teaching, in justice, judgment, and truth.

Article XXVI Of Sanctification

Sanctification is that renewal of our fallen nature by the Holy Ghost, received through faith in Jesus Christ, whose blood of atonement cleanseth from all sin; whereby we are not only delivered from the guilt of sin, but are washed from its pollution, saved from its power, and are enabled, through grace, to love God with all our hearts and to walk in his holy commandments blameless.

Article XXVII Of the Duty of Christians to the Civil Authority

It is the duty of all Christians, and especially of all Christian ministers, to observe and obey the laws and commands of the governing or supreme authority of the country of which they are citizens or subjects or in which they reside, and to use all laudable means to encourage and enjoin obedience to the powers that be when Scriptures and Commands of God are not contradicted.

Mission Statement

God has called this ministry to witness the Kingdom of God through service to others, preaching the Gospel, and witnessing to the blessings Christ has given to each of us.  We take seriously our call to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the sick and imprisoned.  We seek to do justice, love mercy and to walk humbly with God (Micah 3:8).   We pray we shall be of service to our community and a blessing to those in need.