(Host) A possible split within the Episcopal Church is putting emphasis on small differences in ideology, according to the leader of Vermont’s Episcopal Diocese.
Some conservative members and leaders have announced their decision to leave the North American branch of the Anglican Church. They’re protesting the church’s decision to ordain a gay bishop in New Hampshire and sanction gay unions.
Speaking on Vermont Edition, Vermont Bishop Thomas Ely said the church’s mission won’t be compromised by a split, but it is a distraction:
(Bishop Ely) "And a shifting of resources that have had to go into a process of defending of property disputes, in helping those dioceses where bishops, congregations and individuals have left, and they’re trying to be the continuing Episcopal Diocese and putting resources there. So we’ve had to shift some of our priorities and resources to assist those Episcopalians who want to continue to be in the Episcopal Church."
(Host) If the Anglican Union were to approve a new province within the church, it would be the first it would do so on theological grounds, rather than geography.
Bishop Ely says there have always been disagreements within the church – from interpretation of scripture, to the role of women in the church, to the sanction of gay unions. But he says the church’s strength is in its shared beliefs:
(Bishop Ely) "There are also so many places where we’re in agreement about our mission, to help the poor, to eradicate poverty to work within the framework of the United Nations Millennium Development goals, issues around the environment, issues around hunger. There is so much that if we would just stop and name all the things that we’re committed to working on we would find so much more that we’re together on than divides us."
(Host) The Episcopal Church has about 2.3 million members. The group seeking create its own church says it has about 100,000 followers.
AP Photo/Toby Talbot