The split within the Episcopal Church in America
intensified recently when conservative congregations took the unprecedented
step of splitting away to form their own province. The division stems largely
from a decision five years ago to ordain a gay bishop in New
Hampshire. We’ll
talk with Vermont Episcopal Bishop Thomas Ely about the future of the
church. (Listen)
We’ll also break down new census numbers that give us a
more detailed picture of Vermont’s population by county – telling us about
ancestry, language diversity and education. (Listen)
And VPR’s Tim Johnson tells us about an unusual
holiday tradition in his family. (Listen)
AP Photo/Toby Talbot
Listener comments:
Linda in Enosburg Falls:
I know how concerned you have been and are about childhood hunger in Vermont. I’m hearing that one of the vital programs for children, Farms to Food, is threatened by state budget cuts. Do you want to address this issue, and will the churches be talking with the legislature about this?
Bob in Burlington:
How do we attract young familiesto the Episcopal Church?
Ned in Troy, SC:
The real issue is that the Episcopal organization has lost its way. Check the statistics. [The church] has gone from approximately 3 plus million souls in the 60’s to less than 900,000 in the pews on Sunday. I left the Episcopal organization over the elevation non-heterosexuals to positions of authority. However, my leaving began in the sixties with the change of the litergy,
ordination of women without the approval of the church and the PB’s belief that Jesus is not the only way to salvation…. I would hope that the media would cover both sides of the story. Rarely does one see comments in the main stream press from the poor folks like myself who experienced a church which basically forced the orthodox people out.