OK, we’re new and you might wonder why I’m talking about organization so soon. Partly, so that you know what’s coming, partly, so that I have some idea of what’s being built, and partly so that people coming into this church can have some idea of what they’re getting into – and if they want to get into it.
This church is to have two provinces, and they are affinty-based, not geographically based. In other words, people can align themselves with whom they prefer based on that, rather than worrying about who lives where. Dioceses and parishes will be under the provinces, organized in a manner to be determined later, except that if a body of people already organized joins (a parish, deanery or diocese, for instance), they may elect to remain a body and maintain at least the autonomy which they had in their former body.
The two provinces are:
The Province Of Saint Peter: This is the province for those who wish to maintain, follow and enforce their traditions. It is named after St Peter because of all of the Disciples, he was doubtlessly the most Jewish, and the one most likely to strictly enforce tradition such as dietary laws, prayers, dress, etc. However, he did show that he could change when he was given good reason to do so, such as a revelation.
The Province Of Saint Joseph Of Arimathea: This is the province for those who wish to explore beyond their current set of traditions. Little is known of Joseph of Arimathea other than he was a follower of Jesus, and he had enough wealth and influence to claim Jesus’ body from the Romans and bury it in a fresh tomb. There are legends, however, that include his leading a group to Britain and eventually to Glastonbury, hence the legend of the Glastonbury Thorn and Chalice Well. There are other legends of how he may have been an influence is Jesus’ formative years of which we know virtually nothing.
