The Long Short Walk

The letters we sent to Pawley's Island went into action today.
J's term as senior warden ended at noon even though the old dears at Christ Church kept saying it wasn't really true. Maybe if they protested enough we would stay, and not leave the shadow of Christ Church smaller by three. They believed the bishop when he promised nothing would change. They failed to understand the previous vestry's decision to resign and start a new church under the flag of the AMIA rather than stay and fight for the church and the small bank account. The building and the memories it holds for them binds them. For the old vestry, loving was in the letting go.
J had been presiding over Morning Prayer almost every Sunday since last summer when Pop became ill and later died as summer faded into autumn. No one showed interest in being trained to support him or fill his shoes. Now they are left to depend on the wavering charity of the diocese. After his last vestry meeting, we walked to the Baptist church next door for Morning Prayer at Christ Anglican Mission, our new church.