St Joseph Anglican Church, Trussville Alabama

As a member of the local Parish for about 17 years, the Holy Spirit now leads in another direction. A direction to the unknown, but led by the Spirit.

Prior to taking the vows of Sacred Ministry as Priest to the newly founded Parish, we will sign the following declaration.

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God
unto salvation to everyone that believeth…” Romans 1:16

In the following statement, the congregation of St. Joseph’s Church is creating no exigencies, but
simply acknowledging matters of fact. The conclusion, therefore, is the logical summation of existing realities rather than a declaration of innovation.

We believe that the canonical Holy Scriptures impart all things necessary for salvation.
We believe that men fully inspired by God wrote the Bible and, therefore, in a unique
and authoritative form, it is the Word of God. As the primary goal of biblical interpretation is to understand the attributes, mind, and actions of God (as much as this task is humanly possible), it should be undertaken with the utmost care, humility, and prayerful reliance upon Him. Exposition of Holy Scriptures begins from the perspective of the unchanging character
of Almighty God, not current political, social, or economic perceptions. In these beliefs, the
Episcopal Church has departed from us.1†

We believe that the Bible gives us very clear, unchanging, and eternal instructions on moral and ethical behavior and that these biblical standards of morality and conduct should be maintained at all times and in all places. In this belief, the Episcopal Church has departed from us.2

We believe that the primary mission of the Church is to fulfill the Savior’s commission to His
Apostles: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”3
In this belief, the Episcopal Church has departed from us.4

We believe that role of the Church in the world is to reconcile men to God through Jesus Christ our Lord. In this belief, the Episcopal Church has departed from us.5

We believe that as “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me,” Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Second Person of the Trinity is the sole Mediator between God and man.6 In this belief, the Episcopal Church has departed from us.7
1 General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Columbus, 2006
(New York: General Convention, 2007), pp. 417-418.
†The Episcopal Church as referenced is represented locally by the Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee
2 General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Minneapolis, 2003
(New York: General Convention, 2004), p. 615f.
General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Columbus, 2006
(New York: General Convention, 2007), p. 704.
3 St. Matthew 28:19.
4 General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Columbus, 2006
(New York: General Convention, 2007), pp. 522-524.
5 General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Minneapolis, 2003
(New York: General Convention, 2004), p. 265f.
General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Columbus, 2006
(New York: General Convention, 2007), pp. 522-524.
6 St. John 14:6,
7 Resolution D058, General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church,
Columbus, 2006 (New York: General Convention, 2007),


We believe that the focus of Christian worship is Almighty God and, consistent with His holiness
and sovereignty, He expects His people to worship Him in majesty and dignity. In this belief, the
Episcopal Church has departed from us.8

We believe in the communion of saints. Physical, structural unity on earth must never be exalted
over the invisible and spiritual union of contemporary Christians with the faith and practice of the saints and martyrs who, having given a true testimony here on earth, now worship before the Throne of God. We believe that we are responsible for maintaining the Faith for the whole people of God, for the entire experience of the revealed truth of the Christian Church. In these beliefs, the Episcopal Church has departed from us.9

We believe that for the Church to meet the distinguishing criteria of the Apostle’s and Nicene
Creed to be one, holy, catholic and apostolic it must maintain the pure teaching of God’s Word,10
the proper administration of the Sacraments,11 and Biblical morality and Order.12 In this belief, the Episcopal Church has departed from us.13

Furthermore, We find that the ordination of women to Holy Orders is a matter of dispute in which the Episcopal Church places itself in opposition to the overwhelming majority of the world’s Christians. We believe that, at the very least, the conscientious objections of faithful Christians should not be subject to the compulsory dictates of those sworn to “be merciful to all.”14 We find that the leadership of the Episcopal Church has become increasing intolerant and abusive toward conservative, biblical moral positions.15

8 Episcopal News, 060506-1-A, June 5, 2006
General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Denver, 2000 (New
York: General Convention, 2001), p. 682.
General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Columbus, 2006
(New York: General Convention, 2007), p. 482.
General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Columbus, 2006
(New York: General Convention, 2007), pp. 426-427
9 General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Indianapolis, 1994
(New York: General Convention, 1995), p. 351.
10 John 8:31, 47; 14:23; Gal. 1:8-9; 2 Thess. 2:15; 2 Tim. 3:16-4:4; 1 John 4:1-3; 2 John 9-11
11 1 Cor. 10:14-17, 21; 11:23-30Rom. 6:3-4; Col. 2:12; 1 Cor. 10:16; 11:25-26; Gal. 3:27; Exod. 12:48;
Gen. 34:14; I Cor. 10:21; Rom. 6:3-4; Gal. 3:27; 1 Peter 3:21;
12 Matthew 18:17; Acts 20:28-31a; Rom. 16:17-18a; 1 Cor. 5:1-5, 13; 14:33, 40; Gal. 6:1; Eph. 5:6, 11; 2
Thess. 3:14-15; 1 Tim. 1:20; 5:20; Titus 1:10-11; 3:10; Rev. 2:14-16a; 2:20
13 Note: Per other cited sources, certainly erred on the first and third and with debasement of the sanctity of ministry given rise to serious questions about the second.
14 Service for the Consecration of a Bishop, Book of Common Prayer, 1979, p. 518
General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Columbus, 2006
(New York: General Convention, 2007), p. 343.
15 Executive Council Minutes, Jan. 9-12, 2006, Des Moines, IA, pp. 4-5.
General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Columbus, 2006
(New York: General Convention, 2007), pp. 690-691.
Executive Council Minutes, Jun. 11-14, 2004, Burlington, VT, pp. 20-21
Page 4 New Anglican Parish and New Priest in Trussville
We find that orthodox praxis and faith are increasingly marginalized and that the leadership of the Episcopal Church is rapidly moving to further restrict or abolish the remaining testimony of
Christian orthodoxy.16

We do not acknowledge the departure of the Episcopal Church from those who hold the
supremacy of Holy Scripture as the stand of belief and practice in anger, but in grief. Like the bride of an abusive and unfaithful spouse, for our own safety and the secure future of our children, we must find shelter outside of this unhappy house.

As stated clearly by St. Paul “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness?”

we are compelled by the dictates of Holy Scripture and the testimony of the Church
throughout the ages to acknowledge that, having been abandoned by the Episcopal Church, we
cannot seek reunion with it in its present state.17

Following the Episcopal Church’s example when departing the Diocese of London (1784) we will seek a haven in a lateral, orthodox branch of the Anglican Communion.
We grieve for the contemporary state of the Episcopal Church “for they [have] exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.”18 May Almighty God grant His mercy to us all.