Quincy diocese may leave Episcopal Church
Consecration of actively gay bishops, blessings of same-sex unions at odds with local leadership

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

By MICHAEL MILLER
of the Journal Star

PEORIA - The Episcopal Diocese of Quincy said Tuesday it will consider proposals in October that would allow it to break away from The Episcopal Church in order to, diocesan leaders say, stay with the worldwide Anglican Communion.

Bishop Keith Ackerman and other leaders of the west-central Illinois diocese discussed the resolutions with clergy members Tuesday at St. Paul Cathedral. The proposals had to be filed one month in advance of the annual synod in October.

The Episcopal Church was given until Sept. 30 by Anglican archbishops from around the world to provide "unequivocal" assurance that it will not consecrate noncelibate homosexuals as bishops or allow blessings for same-sex unions.

So far, the American province has not complied.

"We're praying the House of Bishops will have a change of heart when they meet in New Orleans Sept. 20-25," Ackerman said in a statement. "If The Episcopal Church refuses to turn back, we will be forced to make a decision."

The Rev. John Spencer, president of the diocesan standing committee, said the diocese was not trying to pre-empt the bishops' meeting by discussing the proposals before the bishops meet.

"We're required to finalize proposed synod resolutions now to meet canonical deadlines," Spencer said. "It's not our intention to prejudge what the House of Bishops may or may not do when they meet later this month."

Other dioceses, such as Pittsburgh, are considering similar measures at their synods this fall as well.

The Episcopal Church's relationship with the Anglican Communion has been in crisis since the Rev. Gene Robinson, a noncelibate homosexual, was approved as bishop of New Hampshire in 2003. Leaders of other Anglican Communion provinces say the consecration violated decisions made at earlier international meetings. The situation has escalated since the election of Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori as presiding bishop in 2006.

Leadership of the Diocese of Quincy, with its two dozen parishes and missions, has traditionally stood on the conservative side of issues. The diocese joined the Anglican Network, a group of U.S. dioceses and churches that disagrees with the direction of The Episcopal Church, early in the group's formation. Quincy also has been holding its contributions to The Episcopal Church in escrow for several years. The diocese was mentioned earlier this year as possible targets of litigation by TEC unless it changes language in its constitution.

Ackerman, bishop of Quincy since 1994, has said repeatedly that the diocese is acting to remain in good standing with the worldwide Anglican Communion, which he said the diocesan constitution and canons require him to do.

The dioceses of Springfield and Quincy were among six dioceses which last year asked for alternative oversight from an archbishop outside the United States but TEC leaders so far have rejected such a set-up.

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