News for Week Ending 9/8/2008

“Realignment” strikes Anglican Province of America

Controversy surrounding participation in the Common Cause Partnership (CCP) headed by Bishop Robert Duncan has led to the announcement by the Rt. Rev Robert Boyce, Bishop Ordinary of the Anglican Province of America (APA) Diocese of the West that he is taking his diocese out of the APA and requesting that it be joined to the Reformed Episcopal Church. Boyce, sent out a letter on September 4 informing the 26 parishes in his diocese of the change. The next day, the Presiding Bishop of the APA, the Most Rev. Walter H. Grundorf, announced Boyce’s resignation and replacement by the Very Rev. Donald King until the APA can determine the actual wishes of each parish and hold an extraordinary synod to reorganize the diocese. His announcement is on the home page of the APA Web site. David Virtue has reported in detail on the details of the“realignment” of the Diocese of the West here. If all 26 parishes in 8 western states were to leave the APA, it would represent a defection of one-quarter of the total APA parishes.

Boyce has been very involved in the CCP and was disappointed when Grundorf announced that the APA was withdrawing from direct participation in the CCP because it includes too many advocates of women’s ordination. (See Pittsburgh Update story here.)

Across the Aisle to sponsor unity event

Across the Aisle, the informal group of clergy and laypeople of varied theological stripes who are committed to staying in The Episcopal Church, is presenting a program called “A Hopeful Future for the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh: An Alternative Solution” on September 13. The two-hour event opposing diocesan realignment begins at 1 PM at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Mt. Lebanon. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported on the announcement from Across the Aisle here. More information is available on the St. Paul’s Web site here. A poster about the event can be downloaded here.

On September 6, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported on both the Across the Aisle event and a similar event supporting realignment at St. Stephen’s, Sewickley, on September 6, sponsored by the Coalition for Realignment.