LOS ANGELES: BISHOP BENITEZ TELLS THREE LA PARISHES TO FOCUS ON THE FUTURE

A Statement by the Rt. Rev. Maurice M. Benitez, Bishop of Texas, Retired

My Friends in Christ,

I am Maurice Benitez, former Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas, a ministry in which I served for 15 years, before retiring 9 years ago.

I come at this time to visit Saint James' Church in Newport Beach, All Saints Church in Long Beach, and Saint David's Church in North Hollywood.

I come at the invitation of these three congregations, who have disassociated themselves from the Episcopal Church USA, and who have been accepted in the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Luweero, in the Anglican Province of Uganda.

I also am here at the invitation of The Most Rev. Henry Orombi, the Archbishop of the Anglican Province of Uganda, and The Rt. Rev. Evans Kisekka, the Bishop of the Diocese of Luweero, who asked me to come, and offer in their behalf, a measure of pastoral care and Episcopal ministry to these three congregations, as best I can.

I now address you in these congregations to whom I was sent, and I begin by declaring that I am here today to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and to call all people, beginning with each one of us, to repent of our sins and to embrace Godliness and righteousness, and to obey Biblical doctrine and the Apostolic Faith.

I am not here to argue or say harsh words about anyone, but rather to try "to speak the truth in love." I urge each one of you to pray daily and fervently for Bishop Bruno and the Diocese of Los Angeles.

Pray fervently for the Episcopal Church, that it may be an instrument for the furtherance of God's Kingdom. Pray that it will turn away from those departures from the Faith and Practice of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, that have led many good and Godly people - clergy and lay - to feel utterly heartsick about the Church, and to feel that they could not in good conscience accept the pastoral care and Episcopal ministry of their diocesan bishops, and to feel forced to leave the Episcopal church. This is the price, and a painful one it is, they feel they must pay to remain loyal to the Faith in which they were nurtured. And I grieve for them, because I, in the Name of God, agree with them.

However, now I turn from the present circumstance, and urge each one of you in these three congregations to focus not on the past, where you have been, but focus on the future, on what lies ahead, under your new jurisdiction, the Anglican Province of Uganda.

Each of you, devote your lives for the rest of your days on earth, to knowing Christ better and better, and to serving Him more and more, and to making Him known to others! Be a disciple who is always at work making more disciples for Christ in this world!

I honor each one of you, and I join with you, in once again recommitting our lives to Jesus Christ in this Service of Holy Eucharist that is now beginning.

AMEN