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Sunday, February 26, 2023

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS SITUATION ON POPE AVENUE?


 I pass by this church everyday. Its sign says that it is Saint Luke Church, with no denomination listed. It has been on Pope Avenue on Hilton Head Island even when I was a teenager here in the early 70’s, although then, its sign clearly proclaimed Saint Luke Episcopal Church.

I always wondered why the outdoor sign today does not indicate that it is Episcopal. I thought it was to confuse Catholics into thinking it is Catholic. But Holy Family Catholic Church on Pope Avenue is right next door. 

Then I was reading an obituary this morning in our local paper and it said that the person who died would have his funeral at Saint Luke Anglican Church. I don’t think, if I recall correctly, that the signage indicates it is now Anglican not Episcopal.

And, as it concerns the true Pope Avenue, the Roman Catholic Church and her current pope, Pope Francis, what he is promoting, although through double speak he insists it ain’t so, is a synodality that will fragment the Catholic Church into schismatic sects just as the synodality of the Anglican Communion has done so. 

So I looked at Saint Luke’s website and found this tidbit of juicy information which indeed, if Pope Francis allows  synodality in the Pope Avenue Catholic Church to progress, we will be seeing this and pretty soon I suspect:

A 21st Century Following Christ

The 21st century has brought conflicts between St. Luke’s belief in the authority of the Holy Bible and the statements and actions of The Episcopal Church which demonstrate their willingness to disregard scripture. In 2009 the Vestry of St. Luke’s confronted this conflict by voting to remove St. Luke’s from any authority or allegiance to The Episcopal Church. This action was ratified by a historic all members meeting on December 1, 2009. At that meeting a quorum of the members of St. Luke's voted by a  large majority with votes adding up to more than two thirds of the  active membership to:

A.        To change the name of the corporation from “Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church, Hilton Head Island,” to “Saint Luke’s Church, Hilton Head Island.”

 B.       To amend and restate the Charter to remove any and all references to the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States, the Diocese of South Carolina, and any Canons associated therewith, so that the Fourth Article of the Charter is deleted in its entirety and the following new Article Fourth is inserted in its stead:

"The purpose of the Corporation is to operate as a religious non-profit corporation (or church)."
Following that decision, St. Luke’s chose to continue in support of the Diocese of South Carolina but stipulated that no funds from St. Luke’s should be used in support of The Episcopal. Following actions by The Episcopal Church against the Bishop of the Diocese of South Carolina, the Vestry voted to join the churches of the Dioceses in requesting that the courts of South Carolina affirm the rights of the churches in South Carolina to the ownership of their property. This action was based on our understanding of South Carolina law and trial precedents. The case was ruled in favor of St. Luke’s and its fellow churches in 2016, but in a surprise reversal, the State Supreme Court made a very split decision against the churches. 

St. Luke’s continues to be a vibrant community of follower of Jesus. A total campus revitalization program was completed in 2017 and was celebrated with a beautiful dinner honoring Rev. Greg Kronz and his wife Meredith for their 25 years of service to St. Luke’s. This was celebrated in our new Fellowship Hall with 256 in attendance and included a video tribute from golf commentator Jim Nance.

St. Luke’s Preschool, St. Luke’s youth and the St. Luke’s congregation are now making wonderful use of the new facilities. The Neighborhood Outreach Connection has come to the Fellowship Hall for their weekly support of neighborhood youth. And St. Luke’s continues to be well known locally for its ministries outreach— helping start Habitat for Humanity in the Lowcountry, initiating and hosting Memory Matters for its first dozen years, and a home Alcoholics Anonymous among many outreach initiatives to old and young alike.

St. Luke’s has been blessed by its faithful following of Jesus and our trust in the authority of the Holy Bible.

Here’s their sermon for the First Sunday of Lent last year:

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