Discord is straining Christ Episcopal

From the San Antonio Express-News via Stand Firm:

By Abe Levy - Express-News

Web Posted: 06/12/2010 12:03 CDT

Most of the lay leaders of the largest and most influential Episcopal church in South Texas said Friday they will resign next week as they contemplate whether to leave the denomination — a move that could lead to a split in the church as well.

Ten of the 16 people on Christ Episcopal Church’s vestry informed the congregation they no longer in good conscience can be leaders in a denomination they believe has strayed from Scripture. One example is the national church’s approval of gay and lesbian clergy.

The vestry members’ decision comes about a month after the church’s rector, the Rev. Chuck Collins, announced his retirement for the same reason.

The Episcopal Church is the U.S. body of the worldwide Anglican Communion, but the two have grown apart over doctrinal differences.

Like Christ Church, conservative parishes across the country are debating how to respond to the national body’s view of the Bible.

“For me, once I was no longer able to feel like we could reform the national church and became defensive in nature, that’s when I realized that my time was up, and I had to do what the Lord had asked me to do,” said Greg King, who will resign Monday.

He’s Christ Episcopal’s senior warden of the vestry and a retired Valero executive.

How many in the congregation stay or leave in the coming months, especially once Collins makes known his intentions after retirement, is under close watch throughout the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas.

The 2,700-member church, founded in 1911 in the Monte Vista neighborhood, includes many prominent civic and business leaders.

It draws up to 700 for weekend services. The Rt. Rev. William Frye, a retired bishop, is serving as interim rector until a permanent replacement for Collins is found.

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