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I don't want to make it sound as if I am totally isolated. This past year, I was accepted as an Associate Clergy member in the AMiA's Fellowship of St. Aidan and St. Columba, a fellowship of clergy of episcopal rank who support the goals and purpose of the AMiA and wish to be formally affiliated with the AMiA.

Also, I am exploring a similar relationship with a newly organizing fellowship of Mennonites called EVANA.

Still, I do miss belonging to a local church in which I could have face-to-face fellowship and communion, and in-person worship. I am now considering driving 2.5 hours to a Choctaw Mennonite congregation in east-central MS. At least they are communicating with me. I could probably go only once a month, but I would do that.

Thank you all for your replies.

Also Michael, if the address you give to send in membership forms for your church is your address then the population of your community is under 100 people. How many churches do you think there should be in a community of 100 people? How many viable churches can you have with 100 people?

Your rant is an indication I hit the nail on the head. You're bent out of shape because the SBC is on your turf. Bottom line.

I don't understand your insistance that Methodists would have planted societies (that's what was planted not churches at that time) in areas with few if any people that were not showing signs of population growth or at least stability. You keep insisting that the Methodists did something they didn't do.

As to my job, I'm appointed to an urban congregation in a transitional middle and lower middle class area in a city with a population of 80,000 and a community of over 120,000. My appointment isn't dependent on finding creative ways to start a church with almost no people.

Again, the goal is to lead people to Jesus Christ, not provide every flavor of church in a given area only to have that church fail because there won't be enough members to sustain it.

Michael, you still haven't said why you don't start a church that you currently claim to be a Bishop in. I don't quite get why a Bishop in Church A would be encouraging church planting from denomination B. If you are a Bishop, take your authority as a Bishop and start a church. Why ask someone else's Bishop to do what you aren't doing?

Timothy, does the UMC define or explain what constitutes 'proselyting'?

I wish you God's speed in finding a good situation to minister in. Northern MS is doubt doubt challenging for a moderate like yourself. That you have spent much time studying and have tried various positions just shows your persistence and openness (not vascillation).

I know a great couple who may be retiring in January to Oxford area. Excellent behind the scenes church workers of a moderate Baptist persuasion.