Conservatives Want Out of Episcopal Church

By Lillian Kwon, Christian Post Reporter Thursday, October 04, 2007

Leaders of Christ Church in Savannah, Ga., have voted to split from The Episcopal Church over its departure from orthodox Christianity, church officials reported.

"We have witnessed how The Episcopal Church has separated from the historic Christian faith over the last few decades," said the Rev. Marc Robertson, rector of Christ Church, according to The Associated Press.

Established in 1733 by Georgia's founder, Gen. James Edward Oglethorpe, and known as the "Mother Church of Georgia," Christ Church is one of the state's oldest churches and has been discontent with the national denomination, particularly since the consecration of an openly gay bishop in 2003. The church's vote for departure on Tuesday was unanimous and church leaders decided to place themselves under the authority of the worldwide Anglican Communion's provincial body in Uganda.

The split could prompt a legal battle between the church and the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia as both claim the church property is theirs.

"Christ Church is and will remain a parish of The Episcopal Church in this diocese and will continue to occupy its present facilities," asserted Bishop Henry I. Louttit of the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia.

Robertson, meanwhile, said, "we're confident of our ownership of that property."

Christ Church leaders said they were prepared to go to court over ownership rights to the nearly $3 million church property but hope litigation can be avoided.

Conservative congregations disaffiliating with The Episcopal Church – the U.S. branch of Anglicanism – constitute less than 1 percent of the entire denomination, but the exodus is continuing and entire dioceses have threatened to split.

On Monday, the Standing Committee – the bishop's council of advice – of the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth announced that it will ask its upcoming diocesan convention to take the first step needed to dissociate itself from The Episcopal Church. The convention meets Nov. 16-17.

The Very Rev. Ryan S. Reed, president of the Standing Committee, said it's time to separate and join an orthodox province under the Anglican Communion. The diocese has been at odds with The Episcopal Church for 25 years, according to Reed, as it struggled to remain faithful Anglicans within the national denomination.

Conservatives were disappointed last week when The Episcopal Church indicated they will not retreat from their liberal-leaning interpretation of Scripture and acceptance of homosexuality.

The Episcopal Church had responded to a Sept. 30 deadline set by Anglican leaders to pledge not to consecrate any more openly gay bishops or bless same-sex unions. Episcopal bishops released a statement Sept. 25 declaring that they would "exercise restraint" by not consenting to consecrating openly gay bishops and not authorizing public rites of the blessing of same-sex unions.