A minor

Hollie and I are being confirmed at Grace tomorrow by Bishop Bruce MacPherson. The service starts at 10:15 a.m. if any of you locals are interested in coming. While I still disagree with certain takes on confirmation (being a paedocommunionist), I have found many aspects of the whole process to be helpful.

Following is a letter to our former elders and their response. I hope it explains the rationale and manner in which we've come to our decision.

From: Jon Amos
To: list
Cc: list
Date: Sat, 10 Apr 2004 16:50:25 -0500
Subject: release of membership

Dear Elders of Christ Church & Trinity Reformed Church, Moscow, Idaho:

Grateful for your ministry to us during our time in Moscow, and in keeping with your Constitution (although it's been just over the prescribed six months from moving), we ask you to release us to the care of Grace Episcopal Church, Monroe, LA.

Grace is an exceptionally faithful parish in the Episcopal Church, USA. In case you are interested, its Mission Statement is as follows:

"Grace Episcopal Church is a traditional Anglican parish, committed to the teachings of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Holy Scripture and the Book of Common Prayer. We are a family-oriented congregation, which includes a pre-K through Eighth Grade day school. As a diverse Christian family, we strive to share Christ’s love and teachings with all people by increasing our outreach to the community, fulfilling our baptismal vows and strengthening our spiritual growth and commitment to each other."

Naturally, we will continue to be active at our "mother church," Auburn Avenue Presbyterian, but we have decided that it is best for us to become confirmed members of Grace, effective April 25. This difficult decision is largely based on my desire to pursue a ministerial vocation within the Anglican tradition and within the US Armed Forces. (In his spare time [hah], the Rev'd Canon Gregg Riley, Grace's rector, is one of the senior chaplains [Lt Col, promotable] in the Kansas Army National Guard. He is also one of those rare Episcopal priests who opposes not only homosexual consecration, but women's ordination.)

In the meantime, we are reckoned baptized members of Grace Church - including our new son, Levi, who is one month old today, and who Father Riley is baptizing this evening, following the Great Vigil of Easter service.

Yours sincerely,

jon

for Jon, Hollie, Ethan & Levi Amos

------------------------------

From: Patch Blakey
To: Jon Amos
Cc: list
Date: Thu, 15 Apr 2004 09:27:50 -0700
Subject: Re: release of membership

Dear Jon,

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Thank you for your recent note requesting to be released from Christ Church membership. The elders, in their meeting this morning, voted to release you and your family from membership in Christ Church. We wish God's blessings on you and your family.

In Christ,

Patch Blakey
Session Moderator