There are two distinct issues, while only one appears to have caught the attention of the media. First, and foremost, is the fact that the congregation remaining in Christ Church, and loyal to the Rev. Edwards, is composed mostly of vestry members, their extended families, and a few others of the Support Our Church (SOC) group. SOC was formed several years ago, primarily by members of the current vestry, to protest the church treasurer paying yearly "asking" dues to the Diocese of Washington. SOC disagreed with Diocesan policies to welcome all people to worship together and be accepted in the church. They further have become obsessed with the idea that Bishop Dixon would force a gay priest on the congregation of Christ Church. They also believed that homosexuals tend to be pedophiles, and women should not be ordained..

Over the past several years the SOC group, through a well-planned program of aggression, intimidation, and hate, drove the majority of parishioners to worship in peace elsewhere. As a result, in February 1999, this union of members of one extended Accokeek family, and other SOC constituents, was able to gain control of the vestry at our annual parish meeting. Once in control, this minority group, or better termed "clan," claimed that the church and grounds belonged to them and that they could choose their type of service. Further, they embraced the far right "Forward in Faith" movement, that was derived from the older "Episcopal Synod of America " organization, and called the Rev. Samuel Edwards to be the rector of Christ Church. Edwards was executive secretary of both those organizations for many years, and has spent only a small portion of his career in parish level service. Most of our members, who are a majority of the Christ Church parishioner list, have not transferred their names from the rolls, and many are attending the alternate services led by Diocesan designated priests in a nearby community center. Typical attendance at the Sunday 9:00AM alternate service is 60, and as many as 74 have gathered to worship in an environment of love and peace.

The second issue is far more disturbing because this small, self-serving clan is being used as the ram to drive a wedge into the Episcopal Church as it now exists. The Forward in Faith movement is only one of several groups who want to cause this change. On May 27, the day after Rev Edwards was no longer permitted to serve as rector of Christ Church, Bishop Dixon was barred from Christ Church by the vestry and was compelled to hold services outside. As she walked to the church entrance, priests and bishops that had flown or driven from outside the area, stood along the walkway with the obvious intent to intimidate her. Later, some were heard to comment that "Christ Church, Accokeek is ground zero for destruction of the Episcopal Church in the World," a frightening statement to those who cherish our beloved Episcopal Church.

The small number of communicants left in the church cannot financially support it. It is not surprising, therefore, that well organized solicitations for the "Accokeek Crisis Fund," are being made worldwide on the Internet. Support and backing from outside sources, however, often comes with a price, and loss of autonomy and control are two of them. If this small group succeeds in their plan to take over the church, parish hall/former Canterbury School building, rectory and grounds, it is not difficult to envision that these wonderful facilities will become headquarters for a host of subversive groups that vow to destroy the Episcopal Church as we know it.

It is time that true Christians become aware of what is happening in this parish, and have the faith and strength to rise up and follow Jesus to meet the challenge. Remember the powerful statement Jesus made when he cast out the charlatans and money changers from the temple. As Bishop Clifton Daniel of East Carolina recently wrote concerning the same type of subversive activities in his Diocese "As ever, the work of the Evil One is to focus our attention on one small matter in order to leave our larger work and mission unattended to." This is more than a dispute among members of a tiny colonial church in Accokeek, it will affect every congregation in the nation that fails to recognize the insidious and subversive methods that are used to destroy a congregation, while cloaking themselves with saintly references that they are sent by God.

A large part of the initial take-over of our tiny parish was the manipulating of the vestry by the "Family." Barbara Sturman is the Senior Warden, her uncle Frank McDonough is the Jr. Warden, the Asst. Treasurer and Superintendent of Sunday School is Ms Sturman's sister. Vestry members include Ms Sturman's uncle, (whose ex-wife is also the registrar), one nephew, and two brothers-in law. One brother-in-law, Wesley Courtney, was appointed vestry Financial Advisor. This majority voting block controls all vestry actions. Even the Search Committee, that recommended that Rev Edwards be chosen, was chaired by the Senior Warden's sister and included several family members. To complete the picture of a tiny parish under the devastating control of one small group, a summer camp for children formerly operated by the Church's Canterbury School (the school has been closed by the vestry), was taken over by the "Family" last year after dismissing the two founding directors. It is now administered by Ms Sturman's brother-in-law, Wesley Courtney, with the director, senior counselor and junior counselor positions (all salaried) assigned to his three daughters. When Ms Sturman was questioned by parishioners concerning so many family members in key church positions, she replied to the effect, "I do not care."

It is so hard to believe this could happen to a lovely and caring parish of a few years ago, but it did.

Belva L. Jensen, Ph.D.
Former Senior Warden
Christ Church, Accokeek

• Diocese of Washington collection of Accokeek materials
• Louie Crew's Anglican pages: http://newark.rutgers.edu/~lcrew/rel.html
• Louie Crew's home page: http://newark.rutgers.edu/~lcrew
• Send mail to: lcrew@newark.rutgers.edu

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