Priest works to reunite divided congregation

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Priest works to reunite divided congregation

August 1, 2013
Jim Naughton

From the Vero Beach Newsweekly:

When Father Chris Rodriguez brought his family here from New Jersey last September becoming Trinity Episcopal Church’s new rector, he discovered a congregation that was hurting and needed help.

A little over two years ago, a doctrinal split within the congregation prompted approximately three-fourths of its members to leave. Most followed the former Reverend Loren Coyle, the church’s rector at the time, creating the breakaway, Christ Church at K-Mart Plaza. Soon after, Coyle left the ministry.

“When I came, Trinity hadn’t had any leadership in a long time,” says Rodriguez. “My job is to steer the ship. People have been receptive, maybe struggling a little, but they’re learning to trust me. I invite them to vent and remind them this is a fresh start.”

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Ann Fontaine

August 4, 2013 6:25 pm

Loren Coyle was a perpetrator of sexual abuse — he did not have “affairs” –

Michael Hartney

August 4, 2013 5:42 pm

Christ Church Vero Beach is in the Diocese of Central Florida.

Reverendmom

August 1, 2013 5:25 pm

Looks like the split was over what constitutes “traditional marriage.” However, Loren Coyle was removed from the priesthood after admitting to an adulterous affair. story here

Sexual misconduct has such devestating effects. My prayers are with Chris+ as he helps them to heal.

Anjel Scarborough

tgflux

August 1, 2013 5:01 pm

I felt like the local news story just scratched the surface of what happened/is happening here. If anyone has any more details, I’d love to hear them.

[This is Florida, right? I wasn’t even sure of that, from the story. What diocese? What’s the bishop been doing?]

JC Fisher

wpDiscuz

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