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Orthodox Episcopalians form own congregation By Geneive
Abdo June 6, 2004 Disillusioned with the liberal teachings of the national Episcopal Church, a group of orthodox Episcopalians will hold its first service Sunday at the Church of Christ the King in Evanston, a new congregation born of a nationwide conflict. Wes Schneider, one of the founders, hopes the breakaway church--believed to be the first in Illinois, if not the Midwest--will draw similar-minded Episcopalians from throughout the Chicago area. The congregation, being launched in a rented 74-year-old gothic church on Sheridan Road that is lined with Tiffany stained-glass windows, is one of dozens of breakaway churches sprouting across the United States as conservatives part ways with the Episcopal Church USA. The division in the national church over social issues, including gay rights and the ordination of women, has been widening since leaders approved V. Gene Robinson, an openly gay cleric, as bishop in New Hampshire last year. The split has left liberals with a church dwindling in numbers and facing doubts over its place in the more conservative worldwide Episcopal body, the Anglican Communion. For conservatives
who believe they represent the true Episcopal Church, the challenge will
be whether to try to join the Anglican Communion |