Largest Kansas-Area Parish Leaves US Episcopal Church
''Although both parties are sad that this separation is going to occur, we both feel that it is the only realistic course given our disagreements''
Christ Church of Overland Park, Kansas - the largest Episcopal Church in the Kansas-City region with 2,200 members - has severed ties with the U.S. Episcopal Church after a series of three votes last month. Christ Church is only one of dozens of parishes that have broken off from the national denomination since an openly homosexual priest was elevated as bishop in 2003.
Parish leaders say the church had longstanding differences with the national body and the Kansas diocese on matters of theology, the interpretation of scripture and the doctrines and disciplines of the church.
However, the parish did not begin withholding most of its financial commitment to the diocese until the gay bishop’s recent election and ordination.
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According to a press release by the Kansas diocese, Christ Church and the diocese attempted to resolve differences for more than a year. By February 27, 2005, however, the Council of Trustees of the diocese and the governing board of Christ Church agreed that separation would be the least painful route.
"The diocese and parish have attempted to conduct the entire process with respect for one another's beliefs and opinions," said Bishop Dean E. Wolfe of Kansas, who made an announcement on Monday. "While these issues have caused great pain for many people, the agreement allows us to move forward on separate paths in our ministries."
After the February decision, Christ Church members voted – on April 3, 10 and 17 – on the agreement. The total count was 873 to 211 in favor of the agreement.
"Although both parties are sad that this separation is going to occur, we both feel that it is the only realistic course given our disagreements," said the Rev. Ronald L. McCrary, rector of Christ Church.
He added that despite breaking fellowship with the US Episcopal Church, his parish will remain in communion with the world’s 77 million Anglicans.
“There are 38 provinces in the worldwide Anglican Communion,” he said to the Kansas City Star. “The U.S. church is one province. There are 77 million Anglicans in the world and only 2.3 million in the U.S. with whom we will be out of communion,” said McCrary.
Under the agreement, Christ Church will be renamed “Christ Church Anglican,” and will assume the current parish’s debt of $1.7 million and pay the diocese $1 million over the next 10 years.
