My research has revealed that there are at least 5 major Episcopal breakaway groups out there -- Reformed Episcopal, Anglican in America, the Rwanda diocese, etc. etc. Forward in Faith, pointed out on this thread, has as its N.American secretary the rector of the most conservative congregation in Atlanta (Our Saviour/Virginia-Highlands) . . . and I was not previously aware of this group's existence.
We need to have a clearinghouse thread where all shocked and horrified Episcopalians can go to get some direction for the weeks and months ahead. There are too many little splinter groups that have left in the past (and more will no doubt be leaving as of this Sunday!) for a single person to keep track of them all.
If we could just get everything organized and have a place to share knowledge about this crisis, we wouldn't have to stop wailing and gnashing our teeth, but at least we would have something constructive to DO.
How do we go about this, y'all?
The easiest way is to just start a thread in the religion section on FR. I've been participating in The Neverending Story/Christian Chronicles threads for about two years now. The moderators are pretty cool about letting the thread go on as long as they're not getting abuse hits from it on a regular basis.
There are other large groups such as the Anglican Catholic Church and the Province of Christ the King. The Anglican Church in America is a part of the larger, Traditional Anglican Communion which has member churches in Canada, Australia, England, Ireland, Southern Africa, India, Central and South America, Japan, and several others countries. Forward in Faith North America is an organization that includes both parishes of the Episcopal Church and individuals.
All of these groups (except FiFNA) are outside of the "official" Anglican Communion and reject priestesses, as well as (noncelibate) homosexual priests and blessings of same-sex relationships.
I saw your post about organizing orthodox anglicans on the FR site. Good idea; maybe we could form a Yahoo club. It's pretty easy to do.
I am a vestryman at an orthodox parish in Nashville. Our bishop, Bertram Herlong, voted against Robinson, and stood with the bishop of Pittsburgh when he deilverd his powerful Transfiguration Day homily (have you read this homily? I can send you a copy). A few years ago, bishop Herlong stopped our rector from joining Forward in Faith. I have a feeling that he won't stop us now. Our rector has called a vestry meeting for this Sunday; he will ask the vestry to have the parish join Forward in Faith, change our signage and substitute "Anglican" for "Episcopal", and withhold our money from ECUSA and send it to bishop Herlong instead.
Other places to look on the net include David Virtue's web site and the American Anglican Council and its affiliated "A Place to Stand."
BTW, I read how the bishop of Atlanta voted. I was pleased, but surprised, that all three bishops in Tennesse voted the orthodox way. Clergy and lay deputies were divided. There could be some interesting battles with heretical parishes if bishop Herlong continues to pursue an othodox path.
I was depressed and angry Wednesday night when this happened. I am more ready to fight now.
In Christ,
MT