The Rectors Speak

Interview with Fr. Eric Menees of Anglican Church of the Resurrection, San Marcos, Ca. By Bruce Brayton, 24 February 2008

WESTERN ANGLICAN (WA) traveled to San Marcos, California one fine day in early February to speak to Fr. Eric Menees (FE). Fr. Eric is rector of Anglican Church of the Resurrection in San Marcos.

WA Fr. Eric, tell us a little about yourself.
FE Long story, but exciting with lots of twists and turns. My family members have been Los Angelenos since 1796. I came from an un-churched background into the church with wonderful mentors along the way. Seminarian at General Seminary eventually leading to Mexico and El Salvador as a young missionary. Met and married Florence, a member of my first parish, Epiphany in East LA. We have a daughter age fourteen and a son age seven. In my first USA ministry, the Lord built a successful Spanish speaking ministry in East Los Angeles and Santa Ana. Then, after a nine year Chaplaincy at Bishop's School in La Jolla, I was led to back to parish ministry at Grace Church in San Marcos. Ultimately because of a desire to stand for the Gospel, Florence and I and over 60% of our congregation left Grace and the Episcopal Church to form the Anglican Church of the Resurrection in September of last year.

WA Tell us about your decision to leave.
FE It wasn't an overnight decision. For most of us it had been going on for years--initially, because of my own training and experiences at home and abroad. Somewhere along the way though, most of us began to feel uneasy. Things didn't sound right; ancient words were spoken but no longer heeded. It was the old "do as I say not as I do." Then finding ourselves as somewhat outcasts in our own church, we finally came to know that there was no way to maintain our spiritual and intellectual integrity and remain in ECUSA for us.

WA How are your relations with those remaining at Grace Church?
FE I think they are fairly good. We don't usually agree theologically but we have been and still are friends. We have some continued contact between our young folks and with some parishioners.

WA You didn't keep your church building. Why?
FE Unlike some of our sister churches nearby, the deeds and title to our facility were not held by the congregation, but by the Bishop and the Diocese of San Diego.

WA Where is Church of the Resurrection located?
FE It is at 135 Vallecitos de Oro, Suite F, in San Marcos. We have 5,600 square feet of space and have planted God's flag right in our new facility. Our services are at 8:00AM and 10:30AM Sundays.We are located in an industrial park but we will make the place look and feel great. And finally, so what if its not a cathedral; isn't it we and not the building who are the church?

WA Has the community accepted you at that location?
FE Well, I think we are seen as good citizens and very active in the community. I am personally very active in San Marcos, serving as Chaplain for the San Marcos Fire Department and also for the San Diego County Sheriff's department which serves San Marcos. I think that has helped us become part of the community.

WA What kind of help do you have here?
FE Fr. Tony Faint is an Associate Pastor for us, helping with all aspects of ministry. We also have a very strong music program led by our music, choir and chorister director Robin Segarra and Bradan McKinley, our wonderful keyboardist. We are also extremely blessed to have David Alenskis, a young seminarian from Indiana who is attending Westminster Seminary in Escondido. David, an Anglican, teaches both adults and youth. David is terrifically talented and gifted and will make a first rate priest in due time. Our high school age youth group includes 15-20 young people who are actively involved with AYM, Anglican Youth Ministries. We also have 20-25 people involved in our choir. In fact, our Chorister group has been invited to sing at Baylor University this spring for a choir festival.

WA When you left the diocese of San Diego, where did you go?
FE We are under the authority of Archbishop Gregory Venables, the Bishop of Argentina and Primate of the Province of the Southern Cone (of South America). We are associated with the Anglican Communion Network and are members in good standing of the worldwide Anglican Communion.

WA What are some potential problems for your church?
FE One problem we must solve is simply one of identity. i.e., who and what is the Anglican Communion? Together we (our congregation and the rest of you fellow Western Anglicans) must find a way to get the word out, that we are a fellowship of Christian believers committed to the headship of Christ, the authority of Scripture, and the unity of the One Holy, Catholic and Apostolic church. There is bound to be some confusion between us as Anglicans and the Episcopal Church. As Anglicans there is no question but that we follow the biblical mandate that Jesus is the only way to the Father -- in fact our Mission Statement at Resurrection makes it clear: "The Mission of the Anglican Church of the Resurrection is to proclaim Jesus as the Way, the Truth, and the Life and to live in the power of his Resurrection."

WA What other ministries are you involved in?
FE Some of our members are members of the Order of St Luke's, a healing ministry. We believe in the power of prayer as it relates to healing. And, we have a well established Cursillo ministry here. About 20-25 of our members will be attending the first pure Anglican Cursillo at Green Oaks Ranch, coming May 8-11. I am Spiritual Director for that Cursillo.

WA Any other thoughts?
FE We have a ministry with Casa de los Pobres in Tijuana and a mission partnership with Santa Maria Magdalena in Juliaca, Peru. Please keep them in your prayers with us.

WA Thank you, Fr. Eric. It has been exciting to be in conversation with you. We at Western Anglican have been pleased to see just a part of your vibrant ministry in San Marcos and beyond. We wish you, your family, congregation and Archbishop Venables a blessed year.