Where Do The Continuers Stand In Texas?

After yesterday's post, I became more curious about the state of "continuing Anglicanism" in New Braunfels, TX, a city of about 60,000. In addition to the APA parish and the new ACNA parish there, there's also St John's Episcopal New Braunfels. Much larger cities must certainly weep that they have fewer choices for Anglicans of a Sunday! On the other hand, St Joseph's New Braunfels, the APA parish, is actually the only APA parish in the entire state of Texas. (The ACA also has only one Texas parish, two others having been specifically chased out of the ACA due to the ineptitude of Stephen Strawn.)

The APA Diocese of Mid-America, which includes Texas, has a total of nine parishes and missions, with two bishops available for pastoral care. The ACA lists 18 parishes and missions in the equivalent Diocese of the Missouri Valley. Experience with such lists on the ACA web sites suggests that not all may be active. If or when the APA and the ACA merge, there will be three bishops for a maximum of 27 parishes in a Midwestern diocese, though I'd hate to be in a single room with all three of those bishops.

In comparison, the ACNA "Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth" has six deaneries covering much of the state, although the New Braunfels parish is part of the ACNA International Diocese, which has four additional Texas parishes. There's no comparison.

Even in the Bible Belt, newly disaffected Episcopalians are not turning to the "continuing" denominations, and in fact the ACA is in decline in Texas. Certainly the personality of Stephen Strawn has had something to do with this, although I think the reasons go well beyond particular individuals, however unqualified and corrupt they may be.