Conservative Episcopal Church in DC Area

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:High services and homilies that do not get into politics.

I am OP. To clarify, I would like a traditional service and homilies based primarily on the Bible and teachings of Jesus.

So you interpret the teachings of Jesus to be primarily "Love thy neighbor as thyself" or "Marriage is between a man and a woman", because if you want the latter you will need to look at the "Anglican"* denominations that spun off from the Episcopal church.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP here... I have a feeling that the OP is simply sick of the clergy using the pulpit as a political podium. We have the same issue at our Episcopalian church. It has become too political. I don't necessarily always disagree with the viewpoints being presented. However, I don't feel this is the proper place for the clergy to voice their opinions. They share their political beliefs on social media, in demonstrations, and in other places too.

OP here. Yes, this is exactly what I am trying to articulate!

Here's the deal. If you can't handle the social justice bent of the Episcopalian church, then maybe you need a new denomination.

You are calling things political and the clergy you disagree with would likely say this is not politics, this is about our sense of ethics, personal responsibility and living out the vows we made to God. If that makes you uncomfortable, then you do not share the same doctrinal background as your church. The clergy are trying to shepherd their flock toward what they believe is right morally, spiritually and doctrinally. If you are bristling at that, then you are in the wrong church.

Sitting in the church pew is not meant to be a comfortable solace from the real world where you get to listen to hymns and pretend its 1950 and all is well in the world for white people. It is ugly and hard out there and filled with injustices and your clergy are rightly railing against it. If you want sunshine and roses all the time and a high mass, become Catholic and go to a Latin service where you won't even know what's being said. Otherwise go to a nondenominational evangelical service and get used to the praise dancing and hand waving.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP here... I have a feeling that the OP is simply sick of the clergy using the pulpit as a political podium. We have the same issue at our Episcopalian church. It has become too political. I don't necessarily always disagree with the viewpoints being presented. However, I don't feel this is the proper place for the clergy to voice their opinions. They share their political beliefs on social media, in demonstrations, and in other places too.

OP here. Yes, this is exactly what I am trying to articulate!

Here's the deal. If you can't handle the social justice bent of the Episcopalian church, then maybe you need a new denomination.

You are calling things political and the clergy you disagree with would likely say this is not politics, this is about our sense of ethics, personal responsibility and living out the vows we made to God. If that makes you uncomfortable, then you do not share the same doctrinal background as your church. The clergy are trying to shepherd their flock toward what they believe is right morally, spiritually and doctrinally. If you are bristling at that, then you are in the wrong church.

Sitting in the church pew is not meant to be a comfortable solace from the real world where you get to listen to hymns and pretend its 1950 and all is well in the world for white people. It is ugly and hard out there and filled with injustices and your clergy are rightly railing against it. If you want sunshine and roses all the time and a high mass, become Catholic and go to a Latin service where you won't even know what's being said. Otherwise go to a nondenominational evangelical service and get used to the praise dancing and hand waving.

+1. A minister is supposed to afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP here... I have a feeling that the OP is simply sick of the clergy using the pulpit as a political podium. We have the same issue at our Episcopalian church. It has become too political. I don't necessarily always disagree with the viewpoints being presented. However, I don't feel this is the proper place for the clergy to voice their opinions. They share their political beliefs on social media, in demonstrations, and in other places too.

OP here. Yes, this is exactly what I am trying to articulate!

Here's the deal. If you can't handle the social justice bent of the Episcopalian church, then maybe you need a new denomination.

You are calling things political and the clergy you disagree with would likely say this is not politics, this is about our sense of ethics, personal responsibility and living out the vows we made to God. If that makes you uncomfortable, then you do not share the same doctrinal background as your church. The clergy are trying to shepherd their flock toward what they believe is right morally, spiritually and doctrinally. If you are bristling at that, then you are in the wrong church.

Sitting in the church pew is not meant to be a comfortable solace from the real world where you get to listen to hymns and pretend its 1950 and all is well in the world for white people. It is ugly and hard out there and filled with injustices and your clergy are rightly railing against it. If you want sunshine and roses all the time and a high mass, become Catholic and go to a Latin service where you won't even know what's being said. Otherwise go to a nondenominational evangelical service and get used to the praise dancing and hand waving.

Amen!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP here... I have a feeling that the OP is simply sick of the clergy using the pulpit as a political podium. We have the same issue at our Episcopalian church. It has become too political. I don't necessarily always disagree with the viewpoints being presented. However, I don't feel this is the proper place for the clergy to voice their opinions. They share their political beliefs on social media, in demonstrations, and in other places too.

OP here. Yes, this is exactly what I am trying to articulate!

Here's the deal. If you can't handle the social justice bent of the Episcopalian church, then maybe you need a new denomination.

You are calling things political and the clergy you disagree with would likely say this is not politics, this is about our sense of ethics, personal responsibility and living out the vows we made to God. If that makes you uncomfortable, then you do not share the same doctrinal background as your church. The clergy are trying to shepherd their flock toward what they believe is right morally, spiritually and doctrinally. If you are bristling at that, then you are in the wrong church.

Sitting in the church pew is not meant to be a comfortable solace from the real world where you get to listen to hymns and pretend its 1950 and all is well in the world for white people. It is ugly and hard out there and filled with injustices and your clergy are rightly railing against it. If you want sunshine and roses all the time and a high mass, become Catholic and go to a Latin service where you won't even know what's being said. Otherwise go to a nondenominational evangelical service and get used to the praise dancing and hand waving.

Love this. Thank you.

[Anonymous]

I think Falls Church was one of the breakaway Episcopalian churches? I think that would be a conservative Episcopalian one.

[Anonymous]

https://www.tfcanglican.org/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP here... I have a feeling that the OP is simply sick of the clergy using the pulpit as a political podium. We have the same issue at our Episcopalian church. It has become too political. I don't necessarily always disagree with the viewpoints being presented. However, I don't feel this is the proper place for the clergy to voice their opinions. They share their political beliefs on social media, in demonstrations, and in other places too.

OP here. Yes, this is exactly what I am trying to articulate!

Here's the deal. If you can't handle the social justice bent of the Episcopalian church, then maybe you need a new denomination.

You are calling things political and the clergy you disagree with would likely say this is not politics, this is about our sense of ethics, personal responsibility and living out the vows we made to God. If that makes you uncomfortable, then you do not share the same doctrinal background as your church. The clergy are trying to shepherd their flock toward what they believe is right morally, spiritually and doctrinally. If you are bristling at that, then you are in the wrong church.

Sitting in the church pew is not meant to be a comfortable solace from the real world where you get to listen to hymns and pretend its 1950 and all is well in the world for white people. It is ugly and hard out there and filled with injustices and your clergy are rightly railing against it. If you want sunshine and roses all the time and a high mass, become Catholic and go to a Latin service where you won't even know what's being said. Otherwise go to a nondenominational evangelical service and get used to the praise dancing and hand waving.

Hey now - our Catholic Church has been all over praising the teenagers leading protests this year, and accepting their gay family and others who have left the Church. Not perfect, but better than I remember! Hopefully moving into the future.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here -- is National Cathedral considered Liberal or mainstream Episcopal here in the DC area?

I don't think you understand - mainstream is liberal.

Just what I was going to say. The mainstream Episcopal church is supportive of gay marriage, LGBTQ rights, gun control and is pro-choice. If you are OK with that, then it seems all you need now is a church that doesn't focus on these issues in sermons and relates bible stories to other things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP here... I have a feeling that the OP is simply sick of the clergy using the pulpit as a political podium. We have the same issue at our Episcopalian church. It has become too political. I don't necessarily always disagree with the viewpoints being presented. However, I don't feel this is the proper place for the clergy to voice their opinions. They share their political beliefs on social media, in demonstrations, and in other places too.

OP here. Yes, this is exactly what I am trying to articulate!

Here's the deal. If you can't handle the social justice bent of the Episcopalian church, then maybe you need a new denomination.

You are calling things political and the clergy you disagree with would likely say this is not politics, this is about our sense of ethics, personal responsibility and living out the vows we made to God. If that makes you uncomfortable, then you do not share the same doctrinal background as your church. The clergy are trying to shepherd their flock toward what they believe is right morally, spiritually and doctrinally. If you are bristling at that, then you are in the wrong church.

Sitting in the church pew is not meant to be a comfortable solace from the real world where you get to listen to hymns and pretend its 1950 and all is well in the world for white people. It is ugly and hard out there and filled with injustices and your clergy are rightly railing against it. If you want sunshine and roses all the time and a high mass, become Catholic and go to a Latin service where you won't even know what's being said. Otherwise go to a nondenominational evangelical service and get used to the praise dancing and hand waving.

+1. A minister is supposed to afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted.

The sermons at my Episcopal church are both full of "social justice" AND strongly rooted in the Bible, particularly the teachings of Jesus. Indeed, I would say they are full of "social justice" BECAUSE they are rooted in the Bible. But they are not self-congratulatory or partisan--they are meant to challenge our complacency, to deepen our commitment to the work of bringing the kingdom of God into the world. Jesus sought out the oppressed, the marginalized, the poor; Jesus pushed back against the powerful and the wealthy. If you think that a commitment to "social justice" is political and not, say, the result of faith in Jesus--well, I'm not sure that it's the right church for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP here... I have a feeling that the OP is simply sick of the clergy using the pulpit as a political podium. We have the same issue at our Episcopalian church. It has become too political. I don't necessarily always disagree with the viewpoints being presented. However, I don't feel this is the proper place for the clergy to voice their opinions. They share their political beliefs on social media, in demonstrations, and in other places too.

OP here. Yes, this is exactly what I am trying to articulate!

Here's the deal. If you can't handle the social justice bent of the Episcopalian church, then maybe you need a new denomination.

You are calling things political and the clergy you disagree with would likely say this is not politics, this is about our sense of ethics, personal responsibility and living out the vows we made to God. If that makes you uncomfortable, then you do not share the same doctrinal background as your church. The clergy are trying to shepherd their flock toward what they believe is right morally, spiritually and doctrinally. If you are bristling at that, then you are in the wrong church.

Sitting in the church pew is not meant to be a comfortable solace from the real world where you get to listen to hymns and pretend its 1950 and all is well in the world for white people. It is ugly and hard out there and filled with injustices and your clergy are rightly railing against it. If you want sunshine and roses all the time and a high mass, become Catholic and go to a Latin service where you won't even know what's being said. Otherwise go to a nondenominational evangelical service and get used to the praise dancing and hand waving.

Hey now - our Catholic Church has been all over praising the teenagers leading protests this year, and accepting their gay family and others who have left the Church. Not perfect, but better than I remember! Hopefully moving into the future.

That's great, but I bet the mass is not in Latin. I heard of a church - long ago - where the mass was in Latin and the priest, who's English wasn't so good, just said "God Bless You" for the homily. He was also a favorite for confession.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you attended tfca this morning what did you like, dislike?
And ,op are you the one who said not to much ethnicity? If so what is that supposed to mean?

OP here. I did not make post about ethnicity -- I do not know what that poster meant, either.

TFCA this morning was kind of a mix between traditional (outstanding homily on Jesus' arrival in Jerusalem) and traditional songs followed by evangelical songs (modern worship songs with electric guitar). I did not like the modern worship songs (some parishioners had their hands in the air like evangelicals to the songs, which is their right, I know, just not my style). The service seemed to be all over the map -- announcements, songs, gospel. It was not traditional in my sense of the word. Really nice people, though.

OP, you went to the 11:00 service, right? If you want to get away from the "praise music" (which I do - I don't like the guitars and bands), go to the 8:00 a.m or the 9:30 one. They are much more traditional services Bear in the mind that this weekend is Easter so there are more services than usual spread out over serveral days. Check the church's facebook page and website. I think the 10:00 Celebration Festival service might be just what you are looking for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I mean...the local 'conservative' Episcopal parishes split off and joined the Anglican Diocese of Nigeria, where being gay is a crime. So if you mean politically conservative, you are probably looking for an Anglican church. I think that must be what you mean, since I don't know of many Episcopal churches where the sermons stray too far from the New Testament...you know, love thy neighbor, etc.

When I attended National Cathedral services, twice, the homilies were full of social justice rhetoric. I am not against gay marriage. I want an inspired homily that does not delve into politics. I guess I want a spiritual escape from the woes of the world. I am active in many out of church service activities.

I attended an Anglican church this morning (Falls Church Anglican). I am trying to find the right church community.

I think Catholic would be a better fit for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP here... I have a feeling that the OP is simply sick of the clergy using the pulpit as a political podium. We have the same issue at our Episcopalian church. It has become too political. I don't necessarily always disagree with the viewpoints being presented. However, I don't feel this is the proper place for the clergy to voice their opinions. They share their political beliefs on social media, in demonstrations, and in other places too.

OP here. Yes, this is exactly what I am trying to articulate!

Here's the deal. If you can't handle the social justice bent of the Episcopalian church, then maybe you need a new denomination.

You are calling things political and the clergy you disagree with would likely say this is not politics, this is about our sense of ethics, personal responsibility and living out the vows we made to God. If that makes you uncomfortable, then you do not share the same doctrinal background as your church. The clergy are trying to shepherd their flock toward what they believe is right morally, spiritually and doctrinally. If you are bristling at that, then you are in the wrong church.

Sitting in the church pew is not meant to be a comfortable solace from the real world where you get to listen to hymns and pretend its 1950 and all is well in the world for white people. It is ugly and hard out there and filled with injustices and your clergy are rightly railing against it. If you want sunshine and roses all the time and a high mass, become Catholic and go to a Latin service where you won't even know what's being said. Otherwise go to a nondenominational evangelical service and get used to the praise dancing and hand waving.

+1. A minister is supposed to afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted.

The sermons at my Episcopal church are both full of "social justice" AND strongly rooted in the Bible, particularly the teachings of Jesus. Indeed, I would say they are full of "social justice" BECAUSE they are rooted in the Bible. But they are not self-congratulatory or partisan--they are meant to challenge our complacency, to deepen our commitment to the work of bringing the kingdom of God into the world. Jesus sought out the oppressed, the marginalized, the poor; Jesus pushed back against the powerful and the wealthy. If you think that a commitment to "social justice" is political and not, say, the result of faith in Jesus--well, I'm not sure that it's the right church for you.

Amen. "I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me." Matthew 25:45

And, as an Episcopalian who grew up in the Roman Catholic church (and married into the Episcopal church), I have to gently suggest to those knocking the Catholic church that you might want to learn a bit more about its strong and steadfast social justice ministry.

[Anonymous]

We've visited St. Columba's church several times in NW DC and I found the sermons to be very inspiring and Biblical. I have no idea if their message would meet your needs at all but we were very impressed (but we're not necessarily putting them through the same filter you are).