Posted on 06/09/2006 5:54:43 PM PDT by sionnsar
In Pittsburgh, there are two very different views of the state of the Episcopal Church.
Ask conservative Bishop Robert Duncan, and he will say that those in his diocese who dislike his policies know that he respects their right to dissent.
"That’s not at all typical of the Episcopal Church, where I think in most places the progressive majority is oppressive or driving out the conservative minority," he said.
"Where here, the overwhelming conservative majority is charitable and gracious to the progressive minority."
But ask Joan Gundersen, one of the diocese’s liberal leaders, and she will say that Duncan labels anyone who disagrees with him as a follower of "counterfeit Christianity."
"There is a climate here that is very unfriendly," she said.
The 2.2 million-member Episcopal Church USA is mostly moderate to liberal, with a rebellious conservative minority. Pittsburgh, however, is one of several dioceses where conservatives dominate.
Duncan is a leader of the conservative Anglican Communion Network, which says it has the support of 10 dioceses and represents more than 200,000 Episcopalians. Among the affiliated dioceses is Pittsburgh, much to the chagrin of its liberal members.
The network was formed in response to the election of Bishop V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire at the 2003 church General Convention. He is the denomination’s first openly gay bishop.
After his election, a special con- vention of the Pittsburgh Diocese voted to ask the Anglican Communion – the worldwide body of which the Episcopal Church is a member – to recognize it and other conservative dioceses as the real Episcopal Church.
The diocese also voted to let parishes keep their property if they left the diocese or denomination. That in turn led to a lawsuit, which later was settled with the creation of a process for the disposition of property in the event of a split.
Continue reading "In Pittsburgh, conservative bishop hews to tradition"
Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.