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Neighborhood report

Rwandan archbishop to dedicate new church

The congregation moved many times, but they have their own sanctuary and a high-ranking church dignitary visiting.

By SHERRI DAY
Published January 20, 2006

Parishioners at the Church of the Resurrection liken themselves to the Old Testament Israelites.

Since the Tampa church's rector, the Rev. Kevin Donlon, left St. Mary's Episcopal Church in 2002, his newly formed congregation has wandered from place to place. It has held services in three locations including a garden center, a Presbyterian church and a building that was razed to make way for townhomes.

Now, the church finally has a new home. This weekend, the church will host several events to celebrate its rebirth and new building, at 12720 N Florida Ave.

A visit from the Most Rev. Emmanuel Kolini, the archbishop of the Province of the Episcopal Church of Rwanda and the bishop of Kigali, will highlight the weekend. The archbishop of Rwanda, Kolini is the spiritual leader of the Anglican Mission in America, which governs the Church of the Resurrection.

Kolini will dedicate the church's new building at 2 p.m. Saturday. He will lead a confirmation service at 11 a.m. Sunday for new and converted parishioners and at 6 p.m. host a public forum on the state of Rwanda.

Hosting the archbishop is a privilege, said the Rev. Lucas Koach, the Church of the Resurrection's associate priest.

Although Rwanda "experienced genocide and most of the western world paid it no mind, they've turned to a struggling church in America and said, "We want to help you,' " Koach said. "It's very humbling."

Donlon was out of the country and could not be reached for comment.

In joining the Anglican Mission in America, which was founded in 2002, the Tampa church became a part of a fast-growing organization that seeks to minister to more than 130-million unchurched people in the United States. The mission's premise is that churches in the West are losing their focus while churches in the Third World are growing rapidly.

Still in its rebuilding phase, the Tampa church has about 200 members, senior warden Mary Ann Crane said. Church members live throughout the bay area, including Sun City Center, Plant City, South Tampa and Pasco County.

"It's such a dynamic group of people," Crane said. "Those who were faint of heart and weak of faith have fallen by the wayside. So what we've got left are pretty dedicated folks."

Since purchasing their new building in June for $1.15-million, parishioners have worked to transform the former Church of Christ into a liturgical church, Crane said. The parish spent more than $100,000 on renovations, which included converting the former parish hall into the sanctuary and installing a new sound system, altar and memorial garden.

Nestled on a busy commercial street between an apartment building and an auto repair shop, the church recently adopted Sulphur Springs Elementary School. They also plan to do outreach in the neighboring community.

Last year, the church sent a mission group to Rwanda, proof, parishioners say, that they are thriving, growing and sowing seeds of hope and faith around the world.

"I find the Church of the Resurrection to be really one of the most positive church experiences that I've had," said David Brookman, a software engineer who led the church's mission to Rwanda. "It's a place where I can express my religious convictions without fear of being persecuted for what I say. I feel like we have an openness and love that's rare in churches these days."

For Carol Castleberry, the church's former senior warden, the struggle that birthed the Church of the Resurrection has taught her a valuable lesson.

"We discovered that the church is not the building, it's us," she said. Even so, she takes great pride in her church's new edifice. "We're certainly thankful for it after wandering around in the wilderness.

- For information about the grand opening events, call (813) 936-1057.

[Last modified January 19, 2006, 08:43:07]