Diocese Breaks Away

The Pittsburgh diocese voted today to break off from the Episcopal Church. The final talley was 240 to 102 with 121 Clergy voting in favor of the split and 33 voting against it. The Pittsburgh diocese follows in the steps of the the Diocese of San Joaquin, California which realigned with a wing of the Anglican church in South America. Similar votes are set for dioceses in Illinois and Texas. The most significant disagreement between the Episcopal Church and conservative dioceses is the Consecrated of gay clergy and bishops.

Lambeth Conference Begins

The Lambeth Conference has started in England. The once-a-decade summit draws together Anglican bishops from around the world. Church leaders are hoping to avoid a split over the issue of gay clergy. A large number of theological conservative Bishops (most of them from Africa) are boycotting the conference over the issue. At the center of the controversy is Gene Robinson of New Hampshire – the denomination’s first openly gay bishop. Robinson was barred from attending Lambeth. The Anglican Communion has 77-million-members worldwide. The Episcopal Church is the Anglican body in the US.

Gay Bishop Told to Stay Away

Gene Robinson has been told by Anglican authorities he is not welcome at a church meeting in London because of the controversy over his appointment as the first openly gay bishop in the church. Robinson serves in New Hampshire with the Episcopal church, the Anglican church presence in the US. Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams is hoping to avoid the issue and prevent a split in the church. He asked Robinson not to give a sermon in London today but Robinson defied the Archbishop. His talk was interrupted by a protester who calling Robinson a heretic and urged him to repent. Look for more fireworks during the Lambeth Conference which begins Wednesday and runs through August 3^rd.

JI Packer Leaving Church

JI Packer is leaving the Anglican Church over the issue of homosexuality. While the governing body of the Anglican Church in Canada narrowly defeated a motion approving same-sex blessings last year, Packer objects to his diocese and others voting in favor of them. The prominent evangelical theologian is best known for writing Knowing God, a book that has sold more than three million copies. Packer left Britain some 30 years ago to teach at Vancouver's Regent College.