Contact: Loralei Coyle, 202-682-4131, 202-905-6852 cell, lcoyle@ird-renew.org; Radio Interviews: Jeff Walton, jwalton@ird-renew.org; both with Institute on Religion and Democracy

WASHINGTON, Sept. 14 /Christian Newswire/ -- Within the last week, three dioceses have signaled that they are preparing to depart the Episcopal Church if it does not reverse its course away from the larger Anglican Communion. The dioceses of Fort Worth, Pittsburgh, and Quincy, all of which represent a more biblically orthodox element in the Episcopal Church, have indicated that they are preparing to potentially depart the denomination. Anglican Communion leaders (called "primates") have requested that the denomination's House of Bishops provide assurances, by September 30, that in the future it will not consent to the consecration of bishops living in a same-sex relationship or approve same-sex blessings. All three dioceses have indicated that their first choice would be for the Episcopal Church to repent of its actions.

IRD Director of Anglican Action Ralph Webb commented,

"With just over half a month left until the deadline for the Episcopal Church's response to the primates, the fallout from the Episcopal Church's decades-long movement away from biblical orthodoxy comes even more to the forefront. It's incredible that diocesan resolutions that propose changing diocesan constitutions to allow for the possibility of leaving the church are even being considered. It's the sign, sadly, of a denomination that has moved so far away from Scripture, Christian tradition, and reason that many faithful Christians feel that they can no longer stay within the Episcopal Church and be faithful.

"The Episcopal Church so far has downplayed the impact of the thousands of Anglicans who have left the denomination. At first, denominational spokespersons, including Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, claimed that the numbers of people leaving were so small that they shouldn't be newsworthy. Then, as more and more parishioners left, they revised their claim to emphasize parishes instead of people. They have ignored the loss of congregations with some of the largest numbers of parishioners in the denomination.

"Will the Episcopal Church likewise try to cavalierly sweep under the rug the actions of the dioceses? If the vast majority of parishioners in a diocese leave, will the Episcopal Church treat such events as inconsequential? Will the Episcopal Church consider the departure of bishops and clergy, some of whom have spent the better parts of their lives faithfully serving God in the denomination, insignificant?

"The Episcopal Church now faces potentially large numbers of departures that would make what has happened until now look like the calm before a storm. How will the House of Bishops react in its fall meeting, which lasts from September 19 through 25? What the bishops decide by September 30 undoubtedly will make the difference between whether thousands of Episcopalians stay within the denomination or leave it."

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