U.S. Anglican Priest Ousted for Inappropriate Relations
An Anglican priest in Jacksonville, Fla., was stripped of his clerical credentials for engaging in an inappropriate relationship with an adult female church member.
The Rev. Dr. Samuel C. Pascoe, who led Grace Church for over 20 years, was recently revoked of his ministerial license and removed from his leadership position. Parish officials say they do not know the identity of the female parishioner and other details of the inappropriate relationship.
"We as a parish family face a difficult challenge in the days ahead," said a letter by the vestry of Grace Church to parishioners last week. "We will grieve together, but we will heal as we stand on Christ's unwavering promise that He will never leave us nor forsake us."
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Most of the 350-member congregation had broken from the Episcopal Church in January of 2006 over the denomination's departure from Scripture, especially on the issue of homosexuality. The Episcopal Church consecrated its first openly gay bishop in 2003. Pascoe and his flock were joining more than three dozen other congregations across the country when the congregation voted to leave at that time. After 125 years in the denomination, Grace Episcopal Church left and joined the Anglican Mission in America, a branch of the Church of Rwanda.
Pascoe had commented that his church was the third largest in the Episcopal Diocese of Florida and split to be "in a place where we could worship and focus on mission, not church politics." In the process, the church had to give up its building to the diocese.
"It makes me extremely, extremely sad" to leave the church building, Sue Chatfield, a 15-year parish member, told USA Today at the time. "But that's the price" of remaining true to her faith, she said.
A year later, Grace Church has taken another "Scriptural" step and changed Pascoe's clerical status with the Anglican Mission to "inactive" for his inappropriate relationship with a church member.
"We believe these actions are consistent with a Scriptural and pastoral model for faithful, responsible ministry and accountability within the church," stated the vestry letter.
Senior warden David Nelson commented, "It's painful thing that has taken place. And it's difficult for Sam given the comments he has made on issues of sexual morality."
Pascoe declined to comment to The Associated Press.
Two associate rectors will run the congregation until a permanent replacement is found, according to Nelson.
