“It was time to go” – Traditional Anglicans break with Episcopal Church, form new diocese
From California Catholic Daily
A new diocese has been formed “to carry the banner of Anglican orthodoxy” in the western U.S., and includes 18 California parishes.
The Diocese of Western Anglicans includes California, Arizona, Montana, Idaho and Washington. “Twenty-one parishes with an Average Sunday Attendance of 2,000 that includes former Episcopal parishes and some newly formed Anglican parishes formally asked for recognition by the Anglican Church of North America (ACNA) when the Provincial Assembly met in Dallas/Ft. Worth in April,” reports Virtue Online, a web site that describes itself as “the voice for global orthodox Anglicanism.”
"It became apparent to us that we wanted to become an entity, and with a new orthodox Anglican province forming in North America it was a natural move for us,” the Rev. Bill Thompson, rector of All Saints’ Church in Long Beach, told Virtue Online. “We have moved from a fellowship to a diocese and this will give us a real identity."
According to Virtue Online, Rev. Thompson said the Episcopal Church’s “move away from the ‘faith once delivered’ and the official approval behaviors that are contrary to Scripture” was “a bridge too far for his Western orthodox Anglican brothers and sisters.
"It was time to go,” Rev. Thompson told Virtue Online. “We realize it is not without pain. There is a cost to discipleship and many of us are paying that price in litigation and more. But we are called to be faithful to our Lord first and foremost."
A new bishop for the Diocese of Western Anglicans will be elected by the College of Bishops of the Anglican Church of North America on June 20-21, said Virtue Online. The candidates include Rev. Thompson of Long Beach, Rev. Donald L. Kroeger, rector of Christ Church Anglican in Fallbrook, and Rev. Jose Poch, rector of St. David’s Anglican Church in North Hollywood.
“Whoever becomes bishop will continue as a priest in their parish,” Rev. Thompson told Virtue Online. “We are not anticipating setting up an independent diocesan headquarters."
A draft constitution for the new diocese, scheduled for a ratification vote at the Provincial Assembly in June, says: "The members of The Association of Western Anglican Congregations are all orthodox Anglican congregations in the Western United States; our members are not persons or organizations. Our congregations hold to the One, Holy, Apostolic and Catholic faith wherein Holy Scriptures contain all doctrine required as necessary for eternal salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.”
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