FLORIDA: PRINCE OF PEACE ANGLICAN CHURCH LAUNCHES WITH JOY AND EXCITEMENT

"This is a fantastic day," exclaimed Rita Taubman, one of several hundred who gathered to launch a new mission church in Melbourne, Florida.

"There is a lot of life, joy and peace here.

It's an exciting beginning!"

Her words seem to echo those of other worshipers who came together to mark the first day of a new congregation's journey.

Prince of Peace Anglican Church today held its first worship service since joining the Anglican Mission in America—a beginning that the congregation hopes will enable it to grow and move forward in the work of the gospel.

350 worshipers of all ages were welcomed to the facilities of Our Father's House, a non-denominational church that has offered space to the fledging mission.

As a leader of the host church was heard to say, "We can't wait to see how the Lord will bless us by having you here."

The new path chosen by Prince of Peace and its several hundred members began several weeks ago at St. John's Episcopal Church, merely five miles from the new location.

St. John's leadership, including the Rev. John Miller, had become increasingly concerned in recent years by the direction of the parent denomination, the Episcopal Church in the USA (ECUSA), a constituent member of the worldwide Anglican Communion.

Following ECUSA's decision last year to install a practicing homosexual into the role of bishop—a move condemned by the Anglican Communion—many at St. John's knew that it would be the last straw.

"A lot of my colleagues in the Episcopal Church have had a hard time understanding what they call 'impatience'," reflected the Rev. Miller.

"But they are where I was three years ago.

We have been teaching for nearly seven years at St. John's about the real crisis of faith and leadership in the Episcopal Church.

Our people know what is going on.

Following the actions of last fall, if I had said 'let's just keep on keeping on', I would have had a crisis.

My key leadership would have left and the church would have disintegrated."

In a special parish meeting last month about 80% voted to leave the Episcopal Church and form a new congregation under the Anglican Mission in America, a growing missionary movement in the United States sponsored by Anglicans in Africa and Asia.

This affiliation allows the members to remain a part of the global Anglican Communion, without having to stay connected to the Episcopal Church—a church that Miller calls "toxic to the work of the gospel."

This decision, however, meant that the people would have to leave their well-loved buildings and surroundings and start over.

Many of them had spent decades at St. John's, investing years of their lives in the church.

Patsy Arrouet, a long-time member of St. John's and a key figure in the church's transition team, was asked about any sense of loss: "Yes, there is a grief.

But I've been grieving about my church for a long time.

I do hate to leave our beautiful church and property, and also the people who chose to remain, but we must be continually willing to live where God is growing us.

For that, I'm excited."

'Excited' seems to be the word of the hour.

"Excitement, certainly, but also a lot of freedom," offered John Miller.

"I'm not waking up with an agonizing dark pit in my stomach.

And I am totally joy-filled by the motivation and enthusiasm I'm seeing in those who have decided to be a part of this new thing."

Asked to reflect on those who would stay behind at St. John's, Miller was sympathetic, "My heart and love remain with them.

These are people I have served in Christ for eight years, and we have greatly enriched one another's lives.

I will miss them, and I understand that leaving a church as warm and lively as St. John's is an extremely difficult thing to do.

It's been agonizing for me—the hardest 'yes' I've ever given to God.

But I don't see this in terms of those who left are right and those who stayed are wrong.

It's a matter of God building a new thing.

And we're in for something truly exciting!"

Prince of Peace Anglican Church worships Sunday mornings at 8:30am at Our Father's House, 535 Cassia Boulevard in Satellite Beach, Florida.

Church offices are: 1360 Sarno Road, Melbourne, Florida, 32935.

Their phone number is 321-253-9102.