Request to the Bishop of Chicago
and the
Standing Committee of the Diocese of Chicago
From Church of the Resurrection,
West Chicago
Feast of St Stephen, 2006 (December 26)
This is a follow-up to the letter that the Vestry of
Resurrection and I sent to you on December 17, 2006. Resurrection is seeking to
find a grace-filled and honorable separation from the Episcopal Church and the
Diocese of Chicago. Resurrection does not agree with the direction the church
has taken, and though we have worked diligently in the Diocese to change this
direction, and be in conformance with the Anglican Communion, we have been
unable to do so. Though we have great affection for the people of the Episcopal
Church, we clearly do not share the same beliefs, and cannot go with them in
their chosen direction. There are irreconcilable differences, and we acknowledge
this plainly, though with grief. We believe separation is the healthiest
alternative at this point, and we hope to conclude this in a way that is fair,
and to which we can both point as a model of Christian charity.
We recognize that there is a fiduciary responsibility that
you share. We have one as well. We assume that both are grounded in what is fair
and moral, and we believe that when you are fully informed of the relevant
history, you will concur with our request, and that your fiduciary and spiritual
duties will have been fulfilled rightly.
Our background and the issues here are unique. If there is
any precedent set by the terms to which the Diocese and we agree, it will be
based on the specifics of our history and circumstances. Here is what marks them
as exceptional:
Resurrection was founded in 1954 in rented facilities, and
the current building was completed in 1964 on inexpensive flood-prone land that
the founders purchased next to the DuPage River (it is why the church is built
on a mound in the flood plain, no longer permitted). Near the end of 1993, a
split caused some 400-plus members to leave the Episcopal Church. They had been
worshipping elsewhere for several years and made minor use of Resurrection’s
facilities – part of the reason, along with age, that the property had fallen
into disrepair. They had invested little in the church property and building,
did not worship there (except for a tiny early service), and left quickly
without making any claim to the property.
When I (Fr Koch) was called to Resurrection in early 1994
there were twelve members remaining, including two of the founders. Of those
twelve, most have moved or passed away. Neither of the founders remains alive.
The twelve who called me told me during the interview
process that they disagreed profoundly with the Episcopal Church’s emerging
views on sexuality, and were grieved by what they saw as the denomination’s
departure from the authority of Scripture and the historical Christian faith. My
views coincided with theirs, a prerequisite for being called. But they felt that
they should try to stay and struggle for the faith, in the hope that the
denomination would change its direction. None of us any longer believe this is
possible. For better or worse, we believe that the Episcopal Church has chosen a
markedly different route than Resurrection and the vast majority of the Anglican
Communion, and we cannot share its journey.
When I arrived, the twelve members told me the Diocese was
very nice to them but had suggested that they find other churches to attend,
saying, “You don’t have enough people to start a mission, much less be a parish
or call a full-time priest.” They decided to stay together anyway. They were
badly stretched financially to keep the doors open, but they managed. They
received no money from the Diocese.
The facilities were in need of significant restoration.
Snow came through the roof in the winter, rain and raccoons at other times, the
furnace failed regularly, the kitchen was ancient and dilapidated with extensive
black mold, many of the pews were scratched and delaminating, the carpets were
stained and worn, windows were broken, and the parish house was in very poor
condition throughout – to list just a few of the challenges. Sunday school
wasn’t much of a problem because there was only one child. This was a restart
with almost no resources – except for twelve courageous souls.
Over the course of my years with this congregation, we have
grown significantly – by evangelism, word of mouth, and God’s leading. Everyone
has pitched in to restore the property and build new facilities. We all have
contributed significant financial resources and years of our time and prayer. We
built a new Children’s Ark (on piers), spending I believe somewhere between two
hundred and two hundred fifty thousand dollars over a five-year period. We spent
some thirty two thousand on a new roof for the church, another seven or eight
thousand on the parish house, some eleven thousand to replace the pews, another
thirty thousand on air conditioning (there never was any), nearly thirty
thousand on a new kitchen, and more on carpets, video security systems for the
children, lighting, sound, tables, chairs, building renovations, two furnaces, a
handicap bathroom and accessibility, new sidewalks, parking lot repair and
refinishing – plus missions, local evangelism, training for members, healing
prayer training materials and curricula we created, conferences we hosted,
support for seminarians, support for the Diocese, and on and on and on. Most of
these projects included significant volunteer time and work by members of the
congregation. In cash alone, we’ve probably spent eight hundred thousand dollars
or more on property and ministry (excluding payroll and operating expenses),
with no assistance from the Diocese, no liability for the Diocese, and no debt.
My family and I have contributed in kind. During my first
ten years I received a very small housing allowance, insurance and pension, but
no salary at all. You can compute the value of this based on diocesan minimums
or the median or whatever, but it is probably worth three hundred to five
hundred thousand dollars. Our family also tithed our income, and gifted the
church with its new kitchen and a few other badly needed things. Other families
also made significant gifts of equipment (computers, electronics, lawn tractors,
etc.), furniture, banners, a new altar, and more.
The members of Resurrection have poured their lives and
their resources into this local church and its ministry. They have enormous
moral equity in this place, and significant economic value that they have given
to it.
It would seem profoundly wrong for someone else, even the
Diocese in which we have contributed, to claim ownership and tell all of us that
we must stay in a denomination where we are very much not at home, or leave with
nothing. I don’t believe you would do this.
From the Diocese of Chicago we have received a visitation
from a bishop nearly once per year, assistance to one of our seminarians, the
Anglican Advance and other publications, access to health and pension programs,
counsel from Pastoral Care, and courses on keeping God’s people safe. We have
developed many deep friendships. We are genuinely thankful for these.
During this same period, I have had the privilege to serve
on the Congregational Development Committee, as an alternate deputy to General
Convention, and as co-chair of the Windsor Report Task Force, among other
duties. I’ve also traveled personally, and at my expense, to many congregations
in the Diocese, and for the Diocese itself, to conduct seminars on evangelism
and church growth. I’ve given personally to the Bishop’s discretionary fund to
help clergy in need. In addition, our congregation’s Healing Prayer ministry has
taught courses at diocesan convention and in individual parishes. We’ve hosted
any number of diocesan events, including classes and deanery clergy meetings. We
have tried to give more than we get, and to be real contributors. We’ve also
given financially each year for the support of the ministries of the Diocese, up
to this year. We strived to be kind and honorable and engaged at every turn, yet
we know ourselves to be in an agonizing minority. We do not fit.
This is a congregation of healing ministry, where many
victims of abuse have discovered sanctuary, where they have come home, and found
safety, love, healing, family, restoration – and the opportunity to minister to
others who come after them. Even my Doctor of Ministry project, Teaching
Healing Prayer for the Victims of Sin, was based on and supported this
healing prayer ministry. Though there are now many other loving ministries at
Resurrection, this one is and has always been central. It makes a separation
like this all the more painful, even though we believe it is the right thing to
do.
Our request is simple: Please honor the equity, life blood
and ministry we have contributed, recognize what we have uniquely created, paid
for, built, and given. Please let us go, and allow us to remain intact – people,
property, identity and ministry. It would be just, fair, and a merciful gift to
us.
Wish us God speed and pray for us, and pray for future
reconciliation; we will do the same for you.
In Christ’s mercy,
George Byron Koch, Rector
The Vestry and People
Church of the Resurrection, West Chicago
Love
God, neighbor and enemy. 
Always
Accessible