Sunday, October 21, 2007
BY MICHAEL MILLER OF THE (Peoria, IL) JOURNAL STAR
Michael Miller can be reached at 686-3106 or mmiller@pjstar.com.
MOLINE - The Episcopal Diocese of Quincy "opened the door" to possible realignment with a different province of the Anglican Communion at its annual synod Friday and Saturday.
The west-central Illinois diocese, based in Peoria, is among several U.S. dioceses unhappy with the actions, teachings and policies of The Episcopal Church, the American province of the Anglican Communion.
The Rev. John Spencer, the synod's press officer, said Saturday night that while several resolutions were approved by clergy and elected leaders of the diocese, no final decision was made to seek alternate affiliation.
Diocesan leaders are waiting to see what actions other dioceses take at their annual gatherings, he said.
Also being awaited are reactions by archbishops from around the world to actions taken in late September by The Episcopal Church's House of Bishops. The Anglican leaders had asked the U.S. bishops earlier this year to clarify their stand on blessings of same-sex unions and consecrating noncelibate homosexual bishops.
Spencer said diocesan leaders also are waiting to see who will attend next year's scheduled Lambeth Conference in England, a meeting of Anglican Communion archbishops and bishops from around the world held once every 10 years.
There also is the possibility of a special Quincy synod being called in upcoming months, Spencer said.
"We didn't put any specific date on the next gathering," he said. "We're able to call a special synod if we need to. The consensus was we need to be kind of open to the Holy Spirit here and open the door and leave it open, so that if it becomes clear we need to take further action, we'll do that."
The diocese last year asked for oversight from an archbishop of another Anglican province. So far, that request has been denied. At its meeting in September, TEC's House of Bishops adopted a resolution making eight TEC bishops available as "episcopal visitors," but Quincy Bishop Keith Ackerman pointed out he and the other dioceses making the request for alternate oversight hadn't been consulted in the process.
Ackerman wasn't available for comment Saturday.
Michael Miller can be reached at 686-3106 or mmiller@pjstar.com.
