Episcopal Split as Conservatives Form New Group

[groovedaddy]

WHEATON, Ill. — Conservatives alienated from the Episcopal Church announced on Wednesday that they were founding their own rival denomination, the biggest challenge yet to the authority of the Episcopal Church since it ordained an openly gay bishop five years ago.

The move threatens the fragile unity of the Anglican Communion, the world’s third-largest Christian body, made up of 38 provinces around the world that trace their roots to the Church of England and its spiritual leader, the Archbishop of Canterbury.

The conservatives intend to seek the approval of leaders in the global Anglican Communion for the province they plan to form. If they should receive broad approval, their effort could lead to new defections from the Episcopal Church, the American branch of Anglicanism.

In the last few years, Episcopalians who wanted to leave the church but remain in the Anglican Communion put themselves under the authority of bishops in Africa and Latin America. A new American province would give them a homegrown alternative.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/04/us/04episcopal.html?_r=1&th&emc=th

[Creideiki]

1. They could call it the "Holier than Thou Anglican Church"

Maybe, "We accept sinners, just not THAT kind of sinner Church".

Or maybe the "Free to hate Anglicans".

[quidam56]

2. As an Episcopalian,

this is very disappointing. Seems we don't get Judge Not.... There's too much hate in this world and never enough love. http://www.wisecountyissues.com

[QC]

3. This is not a split--about 2% have gone with the No Fags Allowed Anglican Church.

Sounds more like a splinter than a split. The press is making entirely too much drama of this.

And besides that, Lambeth released a statement today pouring cold water on the splinter faction.