RNS
\nBy Ron Cammel
\nPortage, Mich. – After 40 years, a “simple, quiet, sedate
\nliturgy” brought the landmark Episcopal Cathedral of Christ the King to
\na close.
\nThe building, which resembles a fortress-like castle, has been the
\nbishop’s seat for the Episcopal Diocese of Western Michigan since its
\nconstruction in 1968. The diocese sold it to the 2,300-member Kalamazoo
\nValley Family Church after leaders decided they had neither the
\nresources nor support to maintain the building or 30-acre grounds.
\nA traditional “secularization liturgy” on Wednesday (Aug. 15) marked
\nthe end of the diocese’s religious use of the cathedral. Bishop Robert
\nGepert read a statement saying the site is no longer under his
\njurisdiction and can be used for any purpose.
\nThe building initially had a lot of use as a mission church of the
\ndiocese, but it has not had much diocesan use the past 20 years, said
\nthe Rev. Canon William Spaid.
\nMany Episcopalians from the sprawling diocese never get to the
\ncathedral, he said. The cathedral has been used for ordinations, large
\ngatherings and liturgies that serve as models for churches.
\nThe diocese has no plans for a new cathedral or spiritual hub. Spaid
\nsaid the bishop’s seat will be wherever the bishop is serving at a given
\ntime.
\nThe $1.275 million sale means the parish congregation at the
\ncathedral is meeting for worship temporarily at a local athletic club,
\nsaid the Rev. Cynthia Black, the congregation’s rector.
\nCopyright 2007 Religion News Service<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
RNS By Ron Cammel Portage, Mich. – After 40 years, a “simple, quiet, sedate liturgy” brought the landmark Episcopal Cathedral of Christ the King to a close. The building, which resembles a fortress-like castle, has been the bishop’s seat for the Episcopal Diocese of Western Michigan since its construction in 1968. The diocese sold it…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fbia_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-119","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n