Pittsburgh Episcopalians Discuss Alternative Solution to Avoid Split

By Lillian Kwon, Christian Post Reporter Monday, September 08, 2008

Before the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh discusses changes toward a formal split from the denomination at an annual meeting later this year, some members of the diocese have planned a gathering to talk about "an alternative solution."

Parishes, clergy and laypeople who do not agree with disaffiliating with The Episcopal Church are holding a Sept. 13 event called "A Hopeful Future for the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh: An Alternative Solution," with the intent of promoting unity and staying in the U.S. denomination. Organizers do not believe a withdrawal from the national church is a "helpful response to the current controversies within the Episcopal Church."

"This diocesan-wide gathering will explore why we believe that staying in The Episcopal Church is the right thing to do," according to the event description. "In addition we will lay out what an ongoing Episcopal presence in Southwestern Pennsylvania will look like should the vote for realignment pass."

The gathering comes a month before the diocese's annual convention on Oct. 4. At the convention, leaders are expected to consider resolutions regarding disaffiliation and realignment with the more conservative Anglican Church of the Southern Cone, based in Argentina. One of the resolutions would give parishes two years or more to make their by-laws reflect a realignment with the Southern Cone and also allow parishes "a season of discernment about whether to accept re-alignment or to petition to break their union with Convention."

Last November, the Diocese of Pittsburgh voted overwhelmingly to leave the national church, which the diocese says has departed from traditional Anglicanism and scriptural teachings. It was the first of two vote approvals needed for the diocese to remove itself from The Episcopal Church.

While the diocese generally meets in November for its annual convention, this year the date of the meeting was moved up a month. Bishop Robert Duncan of Pittsburgh had stated that the "expressed threat of deposition" of himself is the "sufficient cause" for the date change.

The deposition of Duncan is expected to be considered when the House of Bishops of The Episcopal Church meet this month. Earlier this year, Episcopal Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori had sought permission from the senior bishops of the national church to inhibit Duncan but she did not receive their consent. The senior bishops, however, certified that Duncan had "abandoned the Communion of this Church."

Duncan argued that he has been loyal to the doctrine of The Episcopal Church – the U.S. branch of Anglicanism. He and the majority of the Pittsburgh diocese are breaking away from the national church to stay faithful to Scripture and to traditional Anglicanism within the worldwide Anglican Communion, they contend.