Gay clergy: decision time for US bishops & More Episcopal News

DAVID WARDELL no longer cares what the American Episcopal bishops do when they meet in New Orleans today.

The bishops face a deadline from world church leaders to stop approving gay bishops and blessing gay unions, or deal with possible breaks in communion with the larger church.

That no longer bothers Mr Wardell and more than 100 other former members of St Andrew's in the Pines, in Peachtree City, Georgia, because they left the church in February and aligned themselves with a Nigerian bishop. Their new congregation is called All Saints Anglican Church. Three other metropolitan Atlanta congregations operate under the authority of a Bolivian bishop.

Episcopalians (Anglicans, in other countries) across the US are joining more conservative foreign church provinces and forming their own organisations because they believe American church leaders are sliding into irrelevance and sin. "They are just changing Scripture to, like, anything goes," Mr Wardell said.

Episcopalians are the latest denomination to be divided over whether believers adhere to traditional understandings of the Bible or more liberal interpretations.

The most prominent dividing line between the sides is whether the Episcopal Church should ordain gay priests or bless gay unions.

Gay clergy: decision time for US bishops
Sydney Morning Herald, Australia

Episcopalian church beginning to divide
Atlanta Journal Constitution,  USA

Tension as Episcopal bishops meet
Christian Science Monitor, MA

NO backdrop for meeting to save the Anglican communion
The Times-Picayune - NOLA.com, LA

NORTH CAROLINA: Conversations held prior to House of Bishops meeting
Episcopal-Life, NY