Florida Parish, Diocese Reach Facility Accord
02/03/2006

The Diocese of Florida and Grace Church, Orange Park have reached an agreement over the use of the parish facilities, following a majority vote by the congregation to withdraw from the Episcopal Church. The agreement, to be signed in the next few days, permits the congregation to worship at its present facilities through Easter, according to the Rev. Canon Kurt Dunkle.

In a Feb. 2 letter to his congregation, the rector of Grace Church, the Rev. Sam Pascoe, wrote that vacating the property would prevent unseemly litigation “with which the diocese has repeatedly threatened us,” and avoids the specter of a poor witness within the community. The agreement also allows the congregation of 1,500 to “make effective plans” for its future.

Portions of 10 congregations in the Diocese of Florida have quit the Episcopal Church since 2004, citing the actions of the 74th General Convention and subsequent decisions by the Rt. Rev. John Howard. Clergy, lay leaders and communicants from Grace Church, Orange Park; St. Michael’s, Gainesville; St. James’, MacClenny; and St. Bartholomew’s, High Springs, have withdrawn from the diocese; as have St. Luke's and St. John's in Tallahassee; and All Souls’, Calvary, Nativity, and Redeemer in Jacksonville. The rest