Diocese
of Fort Worth splits with The Episcopal Church
by Sam Hodges
The Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth officially broke from the Episcopal Church on Saturday, becoming the fourth U.S. diocese to withdraw since late last year. Fort Worth Bishop Jack Iker championed the move, arguing that the national church has strayed from orthodox Christian faith in various ways, including ordaining female priests, allowing the blessing of same-sex unions and having an openly gay bishop.
"The Episcopal Church we once knew no longer exists. It's been hijacked," Bishop Iker said.
By an overwhelming margin, clergy and lay delegates to the diocese's annual convention approved seceding from the Episcopal Church and realigning with a conservative, Argentina-based province of the Anglican Communion.
"We're so looking forward to getting this past us, so we can do the mission of the church and build the kingdom of God," said Chad Bates, chairman of Remain Faithful, a group favoring the break.
But the near term promises more division and uncertainty.
Five of the 55 congregations in the diocese plan to remain with the Episcopal Church. A handful of others are splitting, with those loyal to the Episcopal Church renting space for alternate services beginning today.
"We have more than half the members," said Ian Moore, part of a contingent from Good Shepherd Church in Granbury that favors remaining with the Episcopal Church. The group will be meeting separately today.
All told, as many as 4,000 of the diocese's 19,000 congregants may remain with the Episcopal Church, Bishop Iker said last week.
He predicted that the Episcopal Church will sue to retain ownership of church properties and other assets within the diocese and that there will eventually be a mediated settlement.
The Episcopal Church does not accept the legality of dioceses breaking away. In a written statement, Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori said the church "grieves the departures of a number of persons from the Diocese of Fort Worth." She added, "We will work with Episcopalians in the Diocese of Fort Worth to elect new leadership and continue the work of the gospel in that part of Texas."
The Fort Worth Diocese has long been in tension with the Episcopal Church. Though the Episcopal Church officially permitted female priests in 1976, the Fort Worth Diocese has still not had one. Bishop Iker and his predecessors hold that the Bible restricts the priesthood to men.
Conflict heightened in 2003 when top church leaders approved the election of the Rev'd Gene Robinson, who is openly gay, as bishop of New Hampshire.
Bishop Iker has repeatedly argued that the Episcopal Church, at the national level, abandoned orthodox Christianity and "biblical authority" for a liberal social agenda, including acceptance of homosexuality.
Those in the Fort Worth Diocese who are sticking with the Episcopal Church say Bishop Iker has mischaracterized it.
"Remaining in a body that, while imperfect, is gracious and tolerant is important to us," said Walt Cabe, president of the Steering Committee North Texas Episcopalians.
—Sam Hodges writes on religion for The Dallas Morning News. From that publication's Web site.
