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Resurrection Anglican Church
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THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN NORTHERN ILLINOIS DIOCESE OF CHICAGO 65 EAST HURON STREET CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
60611-2728 OFFICE OF THE BISHOP February 13, 2007 The Rev. George B. Koch, Rector The Wardens, Vestry and Members of the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection 1465 S. Neltnor Blvd. West Chicago, IL 60185-4064 Dear Friends in Christ, It was good to worship and meet with you on February 1, 2007, at Church of the Resurrection. It helped us to understand your position and to relate to you as fellow members of our Church. Having had some time to pray and reflect upon the discussion that evening, on your letter of December 17, 2006, and your Request to the Bishop and Standing Committee dated December 26, 2006, we propose the following: We sincerely hope that you will reconsider your position as expressed in your letters and our discussion. We would welcome the Church of the Resurrection to continue its life and ministry within the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion as a member parish of the Diocese of Chicago. Our Church has historically been broadly comprehensive allowing for a diversity of liturgical styles, biblical interpretations and theological understandings. We believe that the Church of the Resurrection has been nurtured and supported in the Episcopal Church and is not unique in its view points and emphases. We believe that you enrich our common life and that the mission and ministry of the Episcopal Church can both strengthen and challenge you to grow in the knowledge and love of Jesus Christ. If you feel that you must leave the Episcopal Church, you and the Episcopal Church would be diminished. We cannot say that we have no need of each other (I Corinthians 12:14 ff). Before this could happen there should be a congregational meeting with a member of the Bishop’s staff present. At this meeting there should be an open discussion of the issues. Those who might choose to leave the Episcopal Church would understand that they would do so as individuals. The Rev. George Koch, should he choose to leave, would need to renounce his orders as a priest of the Episcopal Church. Those who wish to remain in the Episcopal Church will be re-organized as a congregation with a priest provided by the diocese, similar to what happened when the rector and many members left your congregation thirteen years ago and twelve persons remained who subsequently called the Rev. George Koch as rector. Those who might choose to leave will abandon any claim to the Church buildings and property. The property is held in trust for the Episcopal Church and is to be used for the mission and ministry of the Church. In making our decisions we are constrained by canon law and by guidance of the Episcopal Church. We are grateful for your prayerful decision not to waste the Church’s resources in civil litigation. If we are unsuccessful in building a new congregation in West Chicago, we would probably sell the property and use the proceeds for mission and ministry in another location. Again, our hope and prayer is that the vast majority of the people of the Church of the Resurrection will maintain your membership in good standing in the Episcopal Church. To do so would demonstrate to the world that what unites us is far more significant than what divides us. God has called us into the body of Christ. Our unity in Christ is God’s gift to us and God’s demand upon us. Faithfully yours in Christ, William D. Persell Bishop of Chicago Michael Perillo, President for the Standing Committee of the Diocese of Chicago
Actual images of the letter, pages 1 and 2:
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