It's been long expected, and is now here. The historic and strongly evangelical Falls Church Anglican worships at her location of 300 years for the final time. They shall be meeting in rented school auditoriums and sanctuaries of neighboring churches until the Lord provides for them a more permanent ministry and corporate worship venue, which I believe won't take too long for God to give this faithful Anglican congregation.

In 2007, the Falls Church Episcopal (its former name) voted to separate itself from the Episcopal Church USA (ECUSA) and thus adopted its current name so that it can properly identify itself better with the rest of the theologically orthodox Anglican Communion. That separation too was long coming but very much expected, the cause of which can be traced back in 2003 following the Episcopal Church USA's unapologetic consecration of the Rev'd. Gene Robinson to be the Bishop of Rhode Island. Bishop Robinson's consecration stirred controversy because he is a non-celibate practicing homosexual, a lifestyle which to global Anglicanism and Christianity as a whole is incompatible with Christian teaching. The Falls Church then split- 97% of the congregation wanted to withdraw from the ECUSA, while 3% voted to remain. The winning group chose to change the name to The Falls Church Anglican (TFCA) while losing group then started meeting on their own, renting space at the nearby Presbyterian Church and retained the name "Falls Church Episcopal." What's interesting is that TFCA is just of one of the many parishes that withdrew from the ECUSA for doctrinal issues, among which, the Truro Church, where George Washington served in the vestry (the equivalent to the board of elders).

Not too long ago, the congregation of the parish of St. John's Shaughnessy in Vancouver was evicted from it's home a couple of years after it has decided to leave the Anglican Church of Canada which was going a similar drift as the ECUSA in terms of theology. Anglican theologian and scholar, Dr. J.I. Packer said that the leniency on the issue of sexuality is but a symptom of the ECUSA and Anglican Church of Canada's stance on Biblical Authority. The Bible is no longer viewed as the Word of God in those groups (or provinces) but just a collection of tales and irrelevant sayings. So TFCA, Truro and St John Vancouver are local churches that sought to be under the jurisdiction of theologically orthodox bishops that believe in the supremacy of Scriptures rather than be subject to the authority of geographical bishops that believe otherwise. However, the properties the congregations acquired over the years belong to the geographic dioceses! Hence, the loss of property. In this case, I am happy with the Baptist/Congregational government where properties belong to the "parishes" or local churches.

The Anglican Communion to which the ECUSA belongs finds its root in the Church of England. Historically, prior to the American Revolution (before the USA existed), the Anglican churches in the new North American colonies belonged to the Church of England. When the USA was formed, the Church of England in the new American nation took on a less colonial name, "Episcopal Church" (reflecting its system of government-"epikopos" means "bishop/overseer"; hence, to be episcopal means to be led by bishops). But the new Church remained to be one of the strongest cultural ties the USA had with England. The EC then became a "Provincial" church of the Church of England.

This is how it works. The Anglican Communion is a family of churches divided geographically. From biggest to smallest, the divisions are called: provinces (usually an entire country like Canada, the Philippines or the USA or even sub-continents, archipelagos and regions, are led by primates or Prime Bishops), dioceses (led by bishops) and parishes (by rectors/parish priests). According to the Canons of Anglicanism, one geographical section or a parish cannot function on its own and by itself. There is no such thing as an independent parish or diocese. Every parish is accountable to the bishop, every bishop to an archbishop. The Archbishop of Canterbury (Rowan Williams) is recognized by the entire communion as the "spiritual head" while the monarch of the UK is the titular "Supreme Governor."

The worship leader of TFCA is a fellow blogger and has grown to become a good mentor in cyberspace! He writes on Worthily Magnify,

...in my (almost) eight years I’ve never experienced this level of freedom and joy in our corporate worship, so if moving out of our campus is what it takes for that to happen, then sign me up.

So, my apologies for, yet again, letting things go very quiet around here.

And also, if you think about it, please pray for The Falls Church (Anglican) as we move out next week, and for The Falls Church (Episcopal) that they would faithfully preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ in this place.

KONY 2012 from INVISIBLE CHILDREN on Vimeo.