Message From the Pulpit
August 2003
Dear
Members and friends of All Saints Parish:
“Grace be unto you, and peace,
from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Over the past week, I have talked with many
people who are distressed with what is going on in the Episcopal Church U.S.A.
today. Many of these are lay people, and
they are appalled that an openly gay priest could be allowed to function as a
priest – to say nothing of his being permitted to be a bishop! One evening we were promised a thorough on
going investigation; the next morning, hocus pocus, he was pronounced clean.
Many people today are hurt and
embarrassed. Some feel betrayed. But many of our people at All Saints are
saying, “These things have been going on for 25 years – Where have you been all
this time? More than 25 years ago, All
Saints parted company from these folks, because way back then these very issues
were present and these forces were operative.
We at All Saints are Episcopalians.
We have our own bishops in the apostolic succession; we have our own
diocese and our 1928 Book of Common Prayer, but we have long since parted
company from those who have permitted Gene Robinson to be a bishop. Let me explain.
Back in 1977, a conference was called
in St. Louis by an organization called The Fellowship of Concerned
Churchmen. The president of the
organization was a layman, Dr. Perry Laukhuff, of Virginia. The next president of this organization was
Dr. William White, M.D., of Pensacola, a member of All Saints Parish. This conference wanted to affirm the
authority of Scripture, The 1928 Book of Common Prayer, the male priesthood,
and Biblical morality, particularly in its condemnation of sodomy. There was a tremendous response to the goals
of this conference. Many more people
came than was expected. And when the
leadership of the Episcopal Church U.S.A. ignored all calls for reform, the
Traditional Church Movement was founded – to continue the Episcopal Church as
we had known it before the radical changes.
For me, personally, the course was
somewhat different. I was ordained in
the Diocese of Washington, D.C., in 1960.
From the first, I took an active part in the diocesan youth program and
was the leader of the senior high camps several years. I knew something about selecting leaders who
could be trusted in their work with young people. Later, in 1988, I was required to go on a
conference with some of the newer clergy in the diocese, male and female. I realized at this conference that I would
not allow a young person from my parish to go on a conference with any of the
new clergy in that room. I said to
Bishop Walker in his office in Washington that I was appalled by the manners of
the female clergy, but the males were worse.
I almost fell out of my chair when the bishop agreed with me. “You are right,” he said, “but I want you to know
you are looking at the cream of the crop!
I turn down four men for every one I accept.” After that meeting with the clergy, some of
us in Southern Maryland started to organize a traditional parish. Later I came to All Saints in Pensacola.
All Saints is a traditional, orthodox
Episcopal Parish. We hold to the
authority of Scripture, The 1928 Book of Common Prayer, the male priesthood, and
Biblical morality. The 1928 Book of
Common Prayer affirms Christ’s “one oblation of Himself, once offered, for the
sins of the whole world.” “The One
Oblation.” I have yet to talk with a
Southern Baptist who does not know immediately what I am talking about, “the
one oblation.” Many Episcopalian do not
realized that the new 1979 Prayer Book opens the door for the medieval
doctrines of Transubstantiation and the Treasury of Merit!
More than 25 years ago All Saints
parted company from the other Episcopal parishes in Pensacola. Since then we have heard any number of
excuses.
“They may do that in other dioceses,
but not in our diocese!” “Well, they may
do that in our diocese, but they are not going to do that in our parish!” And when they do, “Well, I just sit in the
back and close my ears.”
The fact is that moral leprosy in one
part of the body will eventually infect the whole body.
If you are getting a little tired of
closing your ears to all you are hearing and closing your eyes to all you are seeing,
remember: If you are a lifelong
Episcopalian, All Saints is the church you grew up in! Isn’t it time you came home to the
traditional, orthodox, faithful Episcopal Church? There is a place for you at All Saints.
(A radio address by the Hugh Hall on
WCOA radio, 1370 AM, Pensacola, Florida.
Broadcast on Sunday, 10 August 2003, 8:05 a.m.)
Yours in our Lord,
Hugh Hall