c. 2003 Religion News Service

MONROEVILLE, Pa. _ The Episcopal Church suffered another significant crack to its increasingly tenuous unity on Saturday (Sept. 27) when the Diocese of Pittsburgh adopted six resolutions designed to grant its parishioners greater autonomy from the national church.

Although the actions taken here only affect the Pittsburgh diocese, they reflect growing dismay among church conservatives over the approval of the church’s first openly gay bishop, the Rev. V. Gene Robinson in New Hampshire.

Together with similar actions by Episcopalians in Central Florida, Albany, N.Y., Fort Worth, Texas, and likely South Carolina and Quincy, Ill., the Pittsburgh resolutions foreshadow a long winter of discontent in the 2.3 million-member church.

Following the lead of Bishop Robert Duncan, delegates meeting at St. Martin’s Church here declared the church’s vote this summer to confirm Robinson “null and void” and resolved to withhold its yearly financial commitment to the national church.

Duncan, a leading conservative, called Robinson’s election a “pastoral emergency.” After Robinson was approved by delegates and bishops in August, Duncan took swift action to distance his flock from what he called the denomination’s “schismatic actions.”

“Nothing is changing overnight,” Duncan said. “Often things are generational. The way God does it, babies take nine months, and changes in the church take even longer.”

In perhaps the most sweeping action, delegates voted to give complete ownership and power over parish property to the diocese. If implemented, that policy could entangle the denomination in costly legal fights.

Other resolutions declared Robinson’s election unconstitutional and nullified the action in the diocese of Pittsburgh; urged Anglican leaders to intervene and work to remove Robinson from his elected position; and asked leaders to address concerns of “orthodox Episcopalians” in dioceses that ratified Robinson’s election.

The Pittsburgh resolutions could have immediate financial and legal consequences for the national Episcopal Church. Withholding the Pittsburgh donations could cost the national church more than $300,000.

Church financial records show Pittsburgh hasn’t been paying the full 21 percent of donations that the church requests from its dioceses. Recently released documents show Duncan’s diocese has been paying only 10 percent of its commitment, falling short by about $150,000.

Church spokesman Jim Solheim said although the yearly financial commitment is not legally binding, many churches feel donating the full 21 percent is important to their identity as Episcopalians.

If the diocese of Pennsylvania decided to formally sever ties with the Episcopal Church, each parish would be allowed to decide whether to align with the national church or the diocese.

When it comes to who owns property, however, courts have overwhelmingly sided with the national church, Solheim said. Local congregations hold their properties “in trust” for the denomination and must leave them behind if they leave the denomination.

One resolution also recognized the rights of other parishes within the diocese to object to the meetings’ outcomes and to disassociate from the diocese.

All of Duncan’s resolutions passed by two-to-one margins. “I think we need to make a statement,” said the Rev. Patrick Dominguez, the assistant rector at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Sewickley, Pa.

Dominguez said he does not want to be a part of a denomination that endorses gay bishops.

“If our church does not take a stand against this, I will leave, my family will leave, and I think my whole parish will leave,” he said.

Many opponents of Robinson’s election are looking to the primates, or leaders, of the Anglican Communion to force the Episcopal Church to remove Robinson from his post.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, the London-based head of the communion, has called an emergency meeting of the primates for next month to discuss the fall-out from Robinson’s election.

“I think that (the primates) are going to say that the American church has gone beyond its limits,” Duncan said.

But Solheim predicted a different outcome.

“At this point there’s no way to unelect Gene Robinson,” he said.

Lionel Deimel, a member of the liberal Progressive Episcopalians of Pittsburgh, said Duncan is trying to subvert the democratic process used to elect Robinson.

“Having lost in the democratic process, he wants to stage a coup,” Deimel said, adding that he will support the church, come what may.

“I am a member of the Episcopal diocese of Pittsburgh, which is presently under Bishop Duncan,” Deimel said. “If he leaves, I’ll still be in the Diocese of Pittsburgh, and (the diocese) is part of the Episcopal Church.

“It’s like Cadillac seceding from GM.”

DEA END GABRIEL