Episcopal Diocese of Texas Diocesan Center — Attraction in Houston

It's painful to leave a church...

Caution ::: I was part of a church in this diocese for 5 years, along with my Mexican husband, and 3 of those years, I was a "Sr. Warden" or head of the board and I have a pin given to me by the priest to prove it. As often happens, a cult of personality developed around the priest. Unfortunately, this led to behaviors unbecoming of his office, which I reported. I had direct testimony from members about a major incident. These accompanied a publicly acknowledged struggle with addiction and attendant layers of dishonesty at the clergy level. While I stridently requested that the Episcopal diocese facilitate healing / conciliatory discussions, the only offer was to take the matter to "church court". Of course, for two individuals to raise a matter with a large, wealthy organization staffed by employees and lawyers, it's easy to imagine that the issue was brushed aside and deemed not important, even though they never suggested the allegations were false. Two former board leaders testified in the matter, against the clergyperson in question. This one review has so troubled the local church that they have applied incredible pressure to get it removed. And members even sent hate mail and posted a pseudo prayer on social media, blaming this messenger, rather than looking at their complicity in an unhealthy situation. People were wounded and the church nor the diocese seem to be able to own their role in the matter or simply validate the pain caused. When a church becomes unhealthy, it is important to speak up and not to be silent. I did that, at great cost. I wish this little congregation well, and I wish them the capacity to behave in ways that...

I was an Episcopalian in this Diocese and a parishioner at Christ Church Cathedral. I’ve left the Church. Clergy elitism and narcissism is rampant in this Diocese and at Christ Church Cathedral. The new Dean at the Cathedral, Nathaniel Katz, restricted my full participation in community life without an explanation other than my “disappointment in the Church.” He pulled me into a secret meeting to inform me of the news. The Dean tried to relate to me in a personal way by explaining his own experiences as a priest experiencing disappointment in the institution of the Church - an insensitive gesture by the Dean. He is so unaware of his privilege. Canon Varnell was very active in gay “dating apps” occasionally being online on Sunday mornings when at the church campus. He never disclosed on those apps his standing as an ordained priest and at one time posted a suggestive picture in his profile. The culture of the Cathedral and the Diocese is to protect and defend each other - which could become a problem when reporting clergy...

Centrally located in the heart of downtown Houston. Private parking garage...