Posted on 11/10/2005 7:53:37 AM PST by sionnsar
More than two years after the Episcopal Church’s debate over homosexuality, four Northeast Ohio congregations have voted to split from the national church and the Diocese of Ohio.
The four parishes — St. Luke’s in Fairlawn, Church of the Holy Spirit in Akron, St. Barnabas in Bay Village and St. Anne’s in the Fields of Madison — voted Sunday to break with the Episcopal Church USA and affiliate with the Diocese of Bolivia in the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone. The South American diocese is based in Cochabamba, Bolivia, and led by Bishop Frank Lyon.
Cleveland attorney James Niehaus, who represents the four congregations, said the vote means the parishes are no longer a part of the local diocese or the national church.
Last year, the parishes declared themselves in “impaired communion'’ with the Ohio diocese and national church after the consecration of a gay bishop. At that time, the parishes accepted oversight from a retired Episcopal bishop who shares their view.
On Monday, clergy leaders of the churches met briefly with Ohio diocese Bishop Mark Hollingsworth. “We agreed that we would be having further discussions on moving forward in a constructive way, and we’re in the process of scheduling those discussions,'’ Niehaus said. “We have had no specific discussions about (property and assets).'’
A spokesman for the diocese said Hollingsworth is expected to address the issue today in a letter.
The four Ohio parishes — with about 1,300 active members — decided to leave the U.S. church and the local diocese because of “divergent understandings of the authority of scripture and traditional Christian teaching,'’ according to a news release.
Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams. Hopefully Ohio courts will replicate the California court decision re who owns the parish property.
And, the Exodus contines. Our prayers go with them.
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