Conservative Dissent Wears Down Texas Priest

April 12, 2008

When the Diocese of Texas needed a church-growth speaker or a consultant for a congregation in crisis, the Rev. Stan Gerber was usually willing to volunteer, but when more and more members at his growing congregation began threatening to leave if he did not take action over the perceived failings of The Episcopal Church, Fr. Gerber said he reluctantly agreed. His last Sunday as an Episcopal priest will be April 13.

Since 1994, when Fr. Gerber became rector at Church of the Good Shepherd in Tomball, Texas, average Sunday attendance has grown from 100 to 385. The consecration of a partnered homosexual as Bishop Coadjutor of New Hampshire in 2003 caused attendance to drop at many conservative Episcopal churches, but Fr. Gerber said growth continued at Good Shepherd and that made him a sought-after speaker.

Fr. Gerber also made no secret of his traditionalist views. He served on the steering committee of the Texas Coalition of Like-Minded Clergy and Laity. The group nominated conservative candidates for elective office in the diocese and worked with Bishop Don Wimberly of Texas to have traditionalist bishops from elsewhere in The Episcopal Church speak at area conferences. the rest