Talk:St. Edmund's Anglican Church

Declaration of St. Edmund's Church
It isn't appropriate to copy the declaration or make large excerpts to be added in an encyclopedia article. This isn't a website for the church and in particular this is contrary to Do not include the full text of lengthy primary sources. -- Whpq (talk) 17:30, 16 April 2009 (UTC)

Thank you, first of all, for reading and critiquing the article. We understand that the "Declaration" is rather, well, declarative and touches upon a number of controversial issues from the church's perspective. We also understand that Wikipedia is neither a soapbox nor a discussion forum for doctrine, dogma, or religious proclevities. The long, "Declaration" is included, however, because St. Edmund's is the first parish in Wisconsin to articulate these specific issues and the "Declaration" has been repeated in the press around the world. Over two hundred and fifty parishes have departed the Episcopal Church in the last five years but few of them have "laid out" there issues in a clear, concise document. The declaration has become a "stand along" document" that is quoted by a number of commentators and pundits on every possible side of the issues mentioned. So often in issues of contemporary church history the facts are outlined but the heart of the matter is not discussed. Each point in the Declaration has a reference in current Episcopal Church policy and has ramnifications for the wider Anglican Communion (70 million Christians) - we believe - therefore - that it is a unique contribution to the body of knowledge gathered in Wikipedia. We were not trying to "slip in" a statement of belief or policy, but we honestly, sincerely thought that the Declaration adds greatly to understanding the real issues that consume this segment of Protestantism.  We are not suggesting that St. Edmund's Declaration will become part of the eternal body of famous church documents, but it is certainly quoted often in discussions from Africa to southeast Asia. Thank you again. Heligeweihe (talk) 01:26, 18 April 2009 (UTC)Heligeweihe