Ouch

Our church has several parishioners who are pursuing ordination, which is, generally speaking, a good thing. Our church is also on the radar of the archbishop of the diocese of LA as being one of the few outspokenly orthodox churches in the parish. Thus far, the Bishop has been supportive of us in our orthodoxy, to the extent that his unorthodoxy permits. This week, however, he told one of our ordinands that he will not be ordained in the diocese of Los Angeles, as his beliefs are not consistent with the beliefs of the diocese. My take on this is that the ordinand actually believes in the inerrancy or scripture and the litteral resurrection of Jesus, and does not affirm the ordination of women or homosexuals, all of which are contradictory to what most of the bishops of the ECUSA in general - and the diocese of LA especially - believe. What this says about our parish, of which said ordinand is a good representative, is up to interpretation.

An announcement was made in Mass yesterday regarding the release of the ordinand, much to the disappointment of the congregation.

What happened next I would only assume to be a coincidence, but I cannot say for sure. Following the announcements, a collect or verse is read inviting the parishioners to the offeratory. Fr. Michael stood up at the front of the church, and in a firm voice read the following:

"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven."

Some of us had trouble stifling our giggles in the back of the church.