Two congregations moving forward after split, lawsuit

By TOM PFINGSTEN
 Friday, July 8, 2011

Excerpt:
Nelson's congregation returned to the West Street building last year after the diocese won its lawsuit against the breakaway group, which changed its name to Grace Anglican and began holding services at Carlsbad Community Church.

Father Joe Rees, the rector of Grace Anglican, said Tuesday that his congregation has held steady at around 250 members ---- roughly the same number that chose to leave the Episcopal Church USA in '06 over doctrinal differences regarding non-celibate gay clergy and biblical authority. The congregation is now affiliated with a new Anglican organization hoping to be recognized by the global Anglican Communion as an alternative to the Episcopal Church, which is the branch of Anglicanism in North America.

"Really, we're not looking behind at all ---- we're just moving ahead, and we don't have any axes to grind," said Rees. "In fact, we're just about to make a move over to a new full-time rental facility in Oceanside, and we're looking forward to that. It'll be completely ours."

The move will mark Grace Anglican's return to Oceanside, as the congregation occupies a rented space near College and Oceanside boulevards. Rees said the church will continue to meet in the front chapel at Carlsbad Community Church until the move to 4055 Oceanside Blvd.

"We've been blessed exceedingly," he said.

As for the smaller congregation that was returned custody of the original Episcopal building last year, Nelson said there is a "very good spirit" a year after its return to the property, which happened on July 4, 2010. the rest