VirtueOnline: Vestal church to sever ties to Episcopal organization

St. Andrew's Anglican Church in Vestal, NY has voted leave the Episcopal Diocese of CNY. Fr. Tony Seel is the rector and an acquaintance of mine. He was part of the area leadership that brought Franklin Graham to Binghamton this month for the NYPENN Festival. St. Andrew's has affiliated itself with the Convocation of Anglicans in North America. The article also mentioned St. Andrew's in the Valley in Syracuse, which is also a refugee from the Diocese of CNY. They have been litigation with the Diocese over their property, hoping that as they left the Diocese they would keep their property. Apparently they will not. St. Andrews, led by Fr. Robert Hackendorf, has affiliated with the Anglican Mission in America. Their web site said the litigation was a distraction and that they look forward to moving to a larger facility with better parking. In a personal conversation with Fr. Hackendorf, he stated they are praying about planting new AMIA churches in CNY. Linked at their web site is Pat Dague's blog Transfigurations with news about Anglicanism and Christianity in general. And while we're on the subject of refugees from the Diocese of CNY, the article also mentions that The Church of the Good Shepherd in Binghamton pastored by the Rev. Matt Kennedy, with his wife, The Rev. Anne Kennedy as Associate Pastor. They too were involved in leadership for the NYPENN Festival. They have officially voted to leave but are apparently in negotiations with the Diocese over their property. I continue to pray for Skip Adams, Bishop of the Diocese of CNY. I'll never forget his grace extended to me when I served under his leadership.