May 26, 2010
By Pat McCaughan

The Rev. Charles Collins, rector of Christ Church in San Antonio in the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas, has announced his intention to retire Sept. 1, 2010.

Collins, who had served nine years as rector of the 2,700-member congregation, said in a May 19 letter to parishioners that he made the decision "to take early retirement … because of a crisis of conscience."

He cited disagreement with the direction of "the Episcopal Church [which] … has moved further and further away from the Gospel to which I committed my life and I have concluded that there is no future for me in this spiritual environment."

Collins said his ministry at Christ Church has been the most spiritually demanding and fulfilling years of his 29 years as an Episcopal priest. "This is the most difficult decision I have faced in [my] ministry."

He will begin a sabbatical June 1 and not return to the parish, he said during a May 26 telephone interview from his San Antonio office.

He said that the church has been in a two-and-a-half year process to "discern our future in the Episcopal Church" and has recognized that the congregation is divided among those who wish to remain in the Episcopal Church and those who intend to leave.

In an April 2010 note posted on the parish website, vestry members acknowledged that division and said they assume "those who stay in the Episcopal Church will continue as Christ Episcopal Church at the current property." It is uncertain where those who wish to leave will worship, the note concluded.

Collins said two committees had been formed to continue discernment for each group. In his absence, the bishop will appoint an interim. Until that happens two parish assistants will provide leadership, he said.

A series of June meetings with diocesan and parish representatives will help determine the congregation's future course of action, as well as the parish's financial stability and other issues, he added.

"It's been very important to know that this has been an extremely prayerful decision on the part of everyone, that has been respectful of everyone," Collins added. "There are no bad guys and good guys in this.

"I had to leave the Episcopal Church and I will. I intend to be an Anglican priest at some point, in some place, somehow, somewhere. But," he added, "there are some very committed Christian people who will be staying here."

Episcopal News Service
The Rev. Pat McCaughan is a national correspondent for the Episcopal News Service. She is based in Los Angeles.