Three Conservative Episcopal Dioceses Reject Jefferts Schori's Authority

[DeepModem Mom]

WP/AP: Three Episcopal Dioceses Reject Presiding Bishop's Authority
Associated Press
Thursday, June 29, 2006; Page A03

NEW YORK, June 28 -- Three conservative Episcopal dioceses that oppose consecrating gay bishops voted Wednesday to reject the authority of the denomination's presiding bishop but stopped short of a full break with the Episcopal Church.

In separate meetings, the dioceses of Pittsburgh, South Carolina and San Joaquin, Calif., asked the spiritual head of the Anglican Communion, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, to assign them an alternative leader.

The Diocese of Pittsburgh is home to the Anglican Communion Network, which represents 10 conservative U.S. dioceses and more than 900 parishes within the Episcopal Church that are deciding whether to split from the denomination.

The decision by the three dioceses came on the same day that the liberal Diocese of Newark tested the new Episcopal call for restraint on choosing gay bishops by naming a gay priest as one of four nominees to become its next leader.

The Episcopal Church and its fellow Anglicans worldwide are struggling to prevent differences over the Bible and sexuality from escalating into a permanent break....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/28/AR2006062802236.html

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

1. The final nominating meeting...

Took place at the church I attend, St. Mary's Episcopal in Belvidere NJ. It's pastor, an out and proud and much-loved gay man, hosted it with his SO, who cooked one of his usual gourmet meals for the assembled.

Just a little history on this.

[DeepModem Mom]

2. Thanks for your inside info! nt

[JerseygirlCT]

3. Oh man, you get gourmet meals?

We get ham. And beans. Over and over and over again. Did I mention how much I hate ham and beans, lol?

[TallahasseeGrannie]

5. I'm not clear

on whether your pastor is the nominee?

[JerseygirlCT]

4. It's frustrating and sad to see this happening

But I think it's just the excuse these dioceses have been waiting for. And that frankly, having elected a *woman* to be the Presiding Bishop was enough to pull in all the troops for them.

I try, I really do. But I cannot wrap my brain around why, even if one believes homosexuality to be a sin (a silly contention in my book), it is so great a sin as to cause this schism. Are there not other sins out there, happening in parishes and dioceses regularly that cause far greater harm? I try to see it from the other side, but the only answer echoing in my head is a resounding "bigots".