wfn.org | Episcopal Life Online October 4, 2008

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

> Episcopal Life Online October 4, 2008

Pittsburgh votes to leave Episcopal Church, align with Southern Cone

Proponents, opponents move immediately towards reorganization

> By Mary Frances Schjonberg

[Episcopal News Service, Monroeville, Pennsylvania] Deputies to the
143rd diocesan convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh
October 4 voted 240-102 to leave the Episcopal Church.

Minutes later, in voice votes on three resolutions (Resolutions One,
Two, and Three here)
(http://www.pitanglican.org/Conventions/2008%20Proposed%20Resolutions.pdf),
the deputies realigned the diocese with the Argentine-based Anglican
Province of the Southern Cone
(http://www.anglicancommunion.org/tour/province.cfm?ID=S5) and set up
some initial procedures for accomplishing that maneuver. The vote was
the culmination of the diocese's continuing theological disputes with
the Episcopal Church and many diocesan leaders later said the decision
put the diocese in what they called "the Anglican mainstream."

Both those who supported realignment and those who opposed it outlined
plans before the convention was adjourned to deal with the
implications of the vote.

"We understand that one member of the Standing Committee remains, and
once he determines that he is indeed the sole remaining member, he
will appoint others to join in the leadership of the Diocese of
Pittsburgh, in accordance with diocesan canons," Presiding Bishop
Katharine Jefferts Schori told ENS. "As the Ecclesiastical Authority,
the Standing Committee will set a schedule for the reconvening of the
Convention, electing members to fill offices, and eventually calling a
bishop to serve in Pittsburgh. My office will work to provide support
and counsel to Pittsburgh, in service to the leadership of the
Ecclesiastical Authority."

That person, the Rev. James Simons, rector of St. Michael's of the
Valley (http://stmichaelsligonier.org) in Ligonier and chair of Across
the Aisle (http://www.episcopalpgh.org), said after the votes that he
would attempt to determine, by the end of next week, the status of
other Standing Committee members and then make the appointments
Jefferts Schori described. He predicted a convention to elect an
interim bishop would be held before the end of the year.

"All of us who remain in the Episcopal Church will look after those
who are suffering because of this split," he told a news conference
outside St. Martin's Episcopal Church (http://www.saintmartins.net) in
Monroeville. "We will find someone to minister to us as a bishop. We
will be recognized by the national church. We will have a diocese, and
it will be healthy and faithful."

Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_101322_ENG_HTM.htm