Letter to St.Paul's

April 24th, 2008 1:50 AM EST Page One of Two

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
5615 Atlantic Blvd
Jacksonville, FL 32207

Reverend Lance Cameron Horne, Rector:

First, let me clarify that I am not addressing this correspondence to you personally.
But rather the members of your church who approached you with the message you gave me outside of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church after service two Sundays ago.

Second, I was and continue to be deeply insulted with the message and restriction it imposed on my witnessing for Christ; my love of children and my God given ability to teach children the Ways of Life that often times is in ways they are not familiar with.

Third, just because I choose to sit in the back of the Church does not make me a quote, “strange man” as the message from your “members” directly stated.

Fourth, I have spent two ten minute sessions in the children’s music room or adolescent community room or whatever you have chosen to name this room. The first session I played the keyed and pedaled organ in the room while several children and adults were in the area. The second time I spent with a teenage boy who had a guitar. Again, there were several other children and adults in the area. This boy knew three chords. I asked him to play each one, one time. Then I asked him to play each one three times one after the other. This formed a nine beat tune of sorts. I had my harmonica and explained it to this young lad and he was genuinely happy he had just created the beginnings of a song. This all happened over 6 or 7 minutes with an intelligent young man who had told me from the start he didn’t know any songs on the guitar…but he knew those three chords, C F and G I believe they were.

Fifth, I sense an extreme amount of jealousy from some of your members.

Sixth, I sense an extreme amount of paranoia from some of your members.

Seventh, I sense some of your members would prefer I choose which church I attend. As you know (because I mentioned it to you directly) I choose to go to St. Barnabas Anglican on Wednesday night and St. Paul’s Episcopal on Sunday morning.

Eighth, I will no longer attend St. Paul’s for any function or worship service until I am apologized to and treated like an adult witnessing and worshipping for Christ with the guidance from the Holy Spirit. You and your members who suffer from their paranoid jealousies have insulted me and I will never, ever forget that no matter what the outcome of this tragic occurrence that has imposed itself on you, your members, your church, the children in your congregation and me personally and spiritually. (Continued on page 2)

Page 2 of 2

Ninth, You sir have heart burn as do many of the Episcopal members over the splitting to the Anglican Way of Worship because of the other “issues” going on in the Episcopal Faith. It is pitiful for the Episcopal hierarchy to depose brothers and sisters in Christ as I read in the April 13th issue of the Times Union Metro pg 1 section, for making this decision. These disciples have chosen (or rather had chosen) the Episcopal Faith …and when it deserted them in their belief structure than they have every right to leave this twisted organization called the Episcopal Church.

Tenth, Item nine above has no bearing on my decision to leave the Episcopal Church but rather my personal experience of this damned message and the imposed restriction on me to only spend time with the adults and not go into the children’s play room. Bull dung brother I don’t play that way and will turn my back on anyone who unjustly tries to restrict my worship and witness time.

Eleventh, If by chance one of your children or adolescents or young adults have conjured up some story about me than I have the right to hear this complaint directly and be able to respond to it before any restriction is imposed or further rumors abound. Please tell me the Episcopal Church has not forgotten what Democracy is !

Twelfth, You, your members and your church have issues…I don’t. You said in closing to me that you yourself shy away from the children in your own congregation because of the possible perceived issues it may bring about. This sir is the saddest and most disturbing issue in this whole mess. Please…please...don’t tell me you choose not to mingle with the children because you have such paranoid members. They are probably home schooling their children (which is fine) but maybe they should home church them as well. There are wonderful religious programs on Sundays and all thru the week on TV. Maybe if they opened their eyes to more than just St.Paul’s and the Episcopal Church their tensions would ease.

In closing sir I know full well the issues in the Catholic and Mormon faiths in regards to children. But it doesn’t limit itself there. Unfortunately the church can be used as a place to hide demons and embellish perceived powers over others. Hog wash… these individuals will be weeded out in the Ways of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ , His Masterful Father God Almighty, and the Holy Ghost moving in the Spirit.

As a very wise Man of God once said….”Get the log out of your eye before you judge the twig in mine.” God’s Graces and Justly Judgments to you and your church.

Matthew Chapter 19 vs. 13-15
Proverbs Chapter 2

In His Majesties Service:

Bryan A. Stross Jacksonville, Florida April 24th , 2008 3:20 AM EST

Member of St.Paul’s for three years…but no more…please remove me from your mailing list. Thank you and I sincerely hope these members can adjust their lives for the sake of their children. I look forward to your correspondence should one be forth coming.
Cc: Father John Eason St. Barnabas Anglican Church
3754 University Club Blvd. Jacksonville, Florida 32277