Fearing for their faith

I am grateful to Mark Entwistle for reporting the story on the amalgamation of six vestries into one in the ancient Diocese of Argyll & The Isles, part of the Scottish Episcopal Church.

Not an easy task for all the parties involved and especially as the six churches all have their own unique history, precious artefacts and bequests.

However, what I would like to add to the report, is the manner in which the proposal was carried out by the previous Bishop Kevin Pearson and his diocesan officials. They were determined to force this through by disallowing a letter from St John’s and St Mary’s vestries to be read, explaining their wishes to remain independent to the voting Synod members. Furthermore, the Bishop claimed, and is minuted, that ALL the vestries had agreed.

The current Bishop Keith Riglin has declined to meet the appellants after two requests to meet to bring ‘a peaceful resolution’ to the situation.

He is quoted at the end of the article as saying: ‘Episcopalian worship continues in all six churches, all are welcome, none are excluded.’

This is a clever way of avoiding that Scottish Episcopalian worship is being eroded by the Anglican Rector from Liverpool and that the local people, who fear for their faith, worship and culture, should conform.

Julie Christie, Rosemarkie.