Episcopal bishops form protest network
PITTSBURGH -- A group of Episcopal bishops that disapprove of the American church's endorsement of New Hampshire's openly gay bishop have formed a rival network of dioceses and parishes.
The Network of Anglican Communion Dioceses and Parishes, however, isn't breaking with Episcopal Church USA, the US branch of the Anglican Communion.
"Basically, we're standing where we always stood," said Bishop Robert W. Duncan of Pittsburgh, the network's moderator. "The other side has stepped out of bounds, and we're trying to put pressure on them to come back."
Some conservative Episcopalian leaders have debated various ways to protest the national church's leadership following the consecration of the Rev. V. Gene Robinson as the church's first openly gay bishop. The new group wants the church to reverse its decision.
"The purposes of the network are to tell the truth to America that the Episcopal Church is telling a lie with the things they approved this summer," Duncan told the Associated Press yesterday. "The Episcopal Church, in approving same-sex blessings and the consecration of the new bishop of New Hampshire, is saying God approves of this. God doesn't approve of this, and that's a huge lie."
James Solheim, a spokesman for the Episcopal Church, said the church would wait to see what the group does. In an effort to placate the group, some bishops have already proposed a plan that would allow parishes under liberal bishops to seek alternative leadership.
Such an arrangement was done when the church began ordaining women, he said. "At no point did bishops give up their authority, and they're not going to do it this time around," Solheim said.
The Rev. Kendall Harmon, theologian for the conservative South Carolina Diocese, called Robinson's consecration an "assault on the authority of Scripture and way of life" called for in the Bible. "There's a strong call to creative dissent in every way possible that's a part of this movement," Harmon said.
The Rev. Ephraim Radner, rector of the Church of Ascension in Pueblo, Colo., and one of the chief drafters of the group's charter, said the document is meant to highlight where there has been a breakdown of some church teachings.
Duncan said the other dioceses that have agreed to join the network are Albany, N.Y., San Joaquin, Calif., South Carolina, Florida, Central Florida, Southwest Florida, Dallas, Fort Worth, Quincy, Ill., Springfield, Ill., Western Kansas, and Rio Grande.
