Pittsburgh Episcopalians Seek Seperate Conservative Jurisdiction
June 29th, 2006 by Peter Frank
In a step toward creating a church within the Episcopal Church, the Diocese of Pittsburgh decided yesterday to seek formation of a boundary-less, theologically conservative province, and it appealed to the Archbishop of Canterbury for immediate alternative oversight and pastoral care.
Yesterday’s resolution does not change the diocese’s standing within the Episcopal Church. Nor is it likely to have immediate impact on the diocese’s 20,000 members.
It does signal, however, that biblically conservative Episcopalians are replacing talk of dissatisfaction with the national church with concrete efforts to create a separate place for themselves within the wider Anglican Communion.
Pittsburgh Bishop Robert W. Duncan Jr. said the diocese’s action was in keeping with its intentions of the past several years.
“We’re the Diocese of Pittsburgh,” he said. “We’re the Episcopal Church in this place. What we’re saying is there is a part of the Episcopal Church which is committed to being a constituent member of the Anglican Communion.”