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[quote=Anonymous]To the person who posed the original question, thank you for asking about All Saints in Chevy Chase! I just came across your post. While you and your family may already be attending St John's Norwood or St Columba's, I want to clear up some of what has been said below about my parish.  It's funny how parishioners of self-described "inclusive" and "welcoming" parishes can hate on All Saints Church--especially when some of them have not even visited All Saints.  Let me note that I am not on the parish staff, nor have I been asked by anyone to write this.  I am just sharing my own experience as a relatively new parishioner.

I am a young adult, and began attending All Saints after finding it down the road from me on the Circle last year. I do not know about how All Saints was 5 or even 3 years ago, but I can tell you that the people of All Saints are not "ancient". Our congregation is not about to become an extension of Rock Creek Cemetery! In fact, just this past Sunday, June 3rd, our Student and Young Adult Ministry Director--who came to us in March with his wife and family of 3 kids--was officially commissioned along with our new Poet-in-Residence. Father Alex, who is our Assistant Rector (he's in his 30s and has a family), oversees the Youth and Young Adult ministries. There are many young families at All Saints, and their proportion in the parish are growing. When I attend the 9am service, I see tons of children coming up the aisles to sit on the carpet at the front before Communion. Many middle schoolers were confirmed last and this year. As far as I've seen, the "Kids Church" and youth ministry for all ages is vibrant. This summer, the youth (middle & high schoolers) are going on respective short mission trips. Yes, families are very welcome!  (Now, if you attend the 8am Eucharist, you won't see kids, for obvious reasons.)

Our rector Father Ed, who is in his 50s and came to us last fall with his wife, is an amazing man of God who is loving, welcoming, and joyful in his work.  His preaching is sound and definitely not boring--you will not be rolling your eyes staring at the vaulted ceiling. He was raised Roman Catholic (his parents were Irish immigrants) and became Episcopalian as a young adult. He practiced public interest law on behalf of vulnerable children, and later found himself called by God to the priesthood.

Here is a list of all official staff & their positions on our website: http://www.allsaintschurch.net/ASC_staff.html

As to your question of conservatism: From what I have garnered, politically, All Saints parishioners tend to be moderate to conservative. But there are people from both sides of the aisle in the pews. On Sundays, I see bumper stickers for Obama, and I see bumper stickers for Republican candidates. We do NOT bring our political views into the church. I have never heard Fathers Ed, Alex, or Tom preach a sermon that included any sort of call to vote x way on y issue, or to vote for or against x person. The pastors do not see the pulpit as a convention podium. Neither do the parishioners.

We are a theologically conservative parish, and we make no apologies for that. We interpret the Word of God in the way the Anglican Communion and other historic churches have long interpreted it. But we are not dogmatic about it. If, for instance, you passionately believe that the Episcopal Church should authorize same-sex marriages and ordinations, then, yes, your beliefs will not agree with those of our priests or of most parishioners. However, no one will shun or dismiss you for your beliefs. We are not a crazy Pentecostal church or whatnot that shuns reasoned discussion. I am sorry if any of the earlier respondents experienced such treatment from anyone in All Saints, because that behavior does not represent us. We do not believe we are better than anyone else; we are sinners and Christ died for all of us.

Finally, I'd like to comment on the preschool issue that was raised. While I do not know the whole story behind the "kicking out" of the secular preschool in favor of a religious one, I will say this: It makes little sense (common & financial) for a religious entity to establish and support a private school that has nothing to do with religion. I have never heard of a Muslim mosque establish a school that says it will not emphasize Muslim values. The same goes for Jewish schools. I grew up in a liberal, 50% Jewish town with 4 synagogues--Not even the liberal Reform synagogue's school was non-religious. Same thing with Catholic parishes and their schools. In fact, just look at Blessed Sacrament Shrine and its school across the street. And even Chevy Chase Presbyterian, which also sits across the street and is an unapologetically liberal parish, has this on their nursery school webpage: "The Weekday Nursery School (WNS) is an integral part of the Christian Education program at the Chevy Chase Presbyterian Church." The bottom line is, it doesn't make sense: Why should a church support a non-religious school? How does that further the church's mission? Simply put, All Saints finally decided that, if it were to continue operating a school, the school should have some connection with Episcopalianism, and not in a mere nominal, name-only way. I don't see how that is 'intolerant', 'mean', or detrimental to children. There are many great non-religious schools in DC, and churches do not run them.

Even if you have found another parish by now, I still invite you and your family to visit All Saints Church. (If for nothing else, the church building is beautiful, and so is the traditional music!) I felt welcomed the first time I visited. Beverly Kennedy, our Newcomers Ministry Coordinator, was one of the first to welcome me afterwards and introduced me to other people. We have a wonderful coffee hour (though it is not a full hour!) that follows both the 9am and 11am service, where "Land of a Thousand Hills" Rwandan coffee, which we have partnered with, is served alongside donuts and pastries. I hope you can visit us one Sunday; we'd be humbled to have you worship with us! God bless you and your family![/quote]

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