"Continuing" Home

Folks savvy about the current situation within North American Anglicanism will recognize that the name of this blog has multiple meanings, invoking the concept of a church "continuing" to remain true to its faith and tradition, the idea that this particular parish continues to be this blogger's home parish, and several other concepts as well. (Maybe if I ever write them all down I can call this name an "[N]-entendre."

The first sense of "Continuing" was applied to several church jurisdictions formed by those who left the American Episcopal church (a.k.a. PECUSA or ECUSA, today TEC, "The Episcopal Church"), of which St. Bartholomew's is a member. It's been a quarter-century since I left (P)ECUSA, but it was with delight last summer that I read statements published regarding church unity between our jurisdiction and two of the other large ones.

This blog is fully intended to remain outside the fray within and without the Episcopal church and the Anglican churches in the English-speaking world, but an e-mail from a fellow (sister? thanks, Nancy!) parishioner last weekend alerted me to the fact that the word "Continuing" has been co-opted (see Language Games; those choosing to remain in the Episcopal church despite its major changes are now calling themselves "Continuing Episcopalians."

So just for the record let it be known that in the U.S. "Continuing Anglicans" are something quite different from "Continuing Episcopalians." I firmly believe we Continuing Anglicans continue to hold "The Faith Once For All Delivered To The Saints" -- and with that said, this blog returns to its function of chronicling the day-to-day life of our little parish.

CH