After a long struggle with internal division among Traditionalist Anglicans and the Anglican Church in North America, conservatives from the Episcopal Church are expected to announce that they are establishing a new church in the United States and Canada. This decision will mark the biggest challenge to the church since its decision to ordain an openly gay bishop, which is at the heart of this controversy.The New York Times: Conservatives Expected to Split Episcopal Church (December 3, 2008)
The split will result in two competing churches that both claim an allegiance to the Anglican Communion. The liberal stance on homosexuality has lead traditional Anglicans, as well as four dioceses, to leave the church. MSNBC: California diocese splits with Episcopal Church (December 3, 2008)
Quotes
"I think this organization does not have much of a future because there are already a lot of churches in the United States for people who don’t want to worship with gays and lesbians. That's not a market niche that is underserved."— James NaughtonThe New York Times: Conservatives Expected to Split Episcopal Church (December 3, 2008)
- Bishop Martyn Minns on why only four dioceses spilt:
"It's one thing to feel distressed. It's another thing to do something about it. There's some people standing back to wait and see if we pull this off, which I think we'll do. Then others will join us — parishes, and maybe dioceses."—Bishop Martyn MinnsThe New York Times: Conservatives Expected to Split Episcopal Church (December 3, 2008)
Episcopal Church Split Blogs and Commentaries
References
Fast Facts
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Split called for by members who do not agree to the ordination of homosexuals, or the blessing of same-sex unions
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The dioceses include
Pittsburgh, PA, Fort Worth, TX, Quincy, Ill, and San Joaquin, CA
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The four dioceses have the support of fast-growing churches in Africa and Asia
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New Episcopal dioceses claim that some churches in the U.S. and Canada have broken traditional values of ChristianityThe New York Times: Conservatives Expected to Split Episcopal Church (December 3, 2008)
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