A church dividing?

The ordination of an openly gay Episcopal bishop forced a wedge in the Episcopal Church as more conservative members denounced the decision and moved to create what they call a church within a church.

While the course of events has unfolded more on a national level, The Right Rev. C. Franklin Brookhart, Episcopal Bishop of Montana, said the state diocese and local Episcopal churches are feeling a ripple effect as attendance drops and local parishioners look to their clergy for help in sorting through the controversy.

According to Brookhart, the group behind a new "church within a church" movement, which would essentially split the Episcopal Church in the United States, is the Network of Anglican Communion Dioceses and Parishes.

The Episcopal Church is the U.S. branch of the international Anglican Communion, and the Network emerged from the longtime conservative American Anglican Council, a once-informational group within the Episcopal Church that emerged about 15 years ago to counterbalance an emerging liberal movement in the church.

The orthodox Network was formed after the ordination of the bishop of New Hampshire, V. Gene Robinson, who is openly gay. Since then, the Network has grown to include bishops, clergy and parishioners from 12 of the church's 106 dioceses.

The group, which has since drafted a charter and theological statement of belief, makes up less than 10 percent of the Episcopal Church, Brookhart said.

The Network's attempt to form a church within a church is in response to a legal issue that would prohibit secession by any Episcopal churches from the nationally organized church. If any church decides to break away from the Episcopal denomination, it would be forced to forfeit all church property, including buildings, foundations and investments; clergy would also lose their salary and pensions.

In Montana, Brookhart said two churches have expressed interest in the Network, with one priest taking up the cause and several parishioners joining the new church within a church movement.

While Brookhart said he is not in favor of Robinson's ordination, he said he views the actions of the Network and the American Anglican Council as schismatic — forcing a wedge into the Episcopal Church, which has always been open to opposing viewpoints.

Brookhart describes the Episcopal Church as a "broad church" in terms of the range of viewpoints held among church leaders and parishioners. Still, Brookhart said, the church has remained strong in its sense of community.

"It's not that everybody believes the same things morally or theologically for that matter — it's that we all agree on our same form of worship," he added.

Montana is no exception. According to Brookhart, the state's Episcopal priests are not aligned in their stand on Robinson's ordination, and don't always agree on the interpretation of scriptures that some believe condemn the gay lifestyle. But Brookhart said, as far as he's concerned, those differences in opinion are OK.

Brookhart said the way he reads the scriptures, the Bible condemns the gay lifestyle.

"But I'm not interested in tolerating in any way abuse, prejudice or injustice toward gay people," Brookhart added. "The Episcopal church welcomes gay people."

Brookhart and Robinson are friends; close enough that Brookhart said he has had the chance to discuss the issue with Robinson and tell him that he disagrees with the church's decision to ordain him as a bishop.

"I can support him as a fellow Christian and as a fellow believer, but there is this aspect of his behavior — and I emphasize behavior, not being — that causes me concern," Brookhart said.

Over the coming weeks, Brookhart has planned a series of meetings across the state to explain his position on the issue, and to discuss with clergy and parishioners the ongoing national discussion surrounding the controversy.

The Episcopal Church has always been progressive in addressing current issues, and does so openly in a public forum, Brookhart explained.

"It looks messy, but the truth is we are discussing what we believe the will of God to be," he said.

With Episcopalians confused and concerned, Brookhart said he hopes that tradition of openness continues with the Montana meetings. Attendance and offerings have dropped at churches across the state, Brookhart said.

Still, Brookhart believes the Episcopal Church will continue, despite the controversy, but sorting out differences could take years.

"We are going to come through this together, basically together and basically okay, but it's going to be a while," Brookhart said.

Until then, Brookhart has encouraged his clergy and church members to concentrate on love and unity, the virtues central to the New Testament.

Ick. Trying to have it both ways and winding up sinking without a trace in the middle.

But even that mealy-mouthedness is better than the gung-ho support of Robinson and condemnation of all who disagree that's going on in this diocese.

If any church decides to break away from the Episcopal denomination, it would be forced to forfeit all church property, including buildings, foundations and investments;

It can be truely liberating to walk away from property. I have little respect for those who put principal ahead of principle.

clergy would also lose their salary and pensions.

I have sympathy for the older guys trying to hang on until retirement. Any priest under 40 in a liberal diocese who claims to be conservative, but remains, has limited courage and will either compromise his faith or suffer due penalty from his superiors.

Yes, I agree about the property, personally, I wouldn't care about the building, rather meet in a barn than be a heretic. However, some of these people have gone to these churches for years, I don't blame them for not wanting to just give up the buildings to the heretics. That is one reason ECUSA was chosen as first case by the homosexual agenda, they knew the property issue would be a major factor in a split or not. IMHO

Graceland wrote: "However, some of these people have gone to these churches for years, I don't blame them for not wanting to just give up the buildings to the heretics."

Been there...done that...sticks in my craw more than you can know. Left our cradle Church last August. Baptized, confirmed, married in that Church. Children were baptized and one was married there two years ago. Absolutely goes against my grain to just walk away when what I'd REALLY like to do is grab those bloody heretics (that includes the lesbian priest installed there by the bishop) by the scruff of the neck and bodily throw them out the way that Jesus threw out the moneychangers! The really tragic thing is that this little church has lost so many people and so much money that the Bishop will probably close its doors within a year. There it will sit, lifeless and unproductive, while at least 1/2 the former congregation worships in a Library meeting room 3 blocks away. THIS is the way ECUSA bishops (small b) care for the Bride of Christ and for the sheep He has entrusted to their care and feeding. A pox on all of them!

Brookhart has encouraged his clergy and church members to concentrate on love and unity, the virtues central to the New Testament.

The Bible's definition of love is keeping God's commandments (1 John 5:1-4). One of those commandments is found in 1 Thess 4:1-8, which deals with sexual purity. Holiness is central to the New Testament.

Jesus said, "He that has my commandments and keeps them, he it is that loves me."

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