EPISCOPALIANS BACK CONSERVATIVES

Albany Diocese votes to join group that opposes gay priests; bishop downplays division in church

By James Collins and Matt Pacenza, Staff writers

Times Union

SPECULATOR – Episcopal clergy and lay people from 19 New York counties voted by a solid majority Saturday to join a small, conservative theological network that opposes the ordination of gay priests.

The vote angered liberals in the Albany Diocese and promises to deepen a rift that has troubled relations between area churches for more than two years.

The decision to sanction a platform offered by the Anglican Communion Network was ratified by two separate groups at the annual convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Albany held in this Hamilton County community.

Out of more than 120 clergy who attended the convention, almost 80 percent voted to join the network, according to Canon Kay Hotaling, spokeswoman for the diocese. Among the 100 or so lay members, about 60 percent voted to join the network.

Leaders of the diocese, including Bishop Daniel Herzog, were quick to say Saturday that the vote does not represent a step toward breaking away from the national Episcopal Church.

"The bishop said this is designed to keep us in," said Hotaling. "We're joining a network, a network that will remain Christ-centered in the Anglican church."

The Episcopal Church is the U.S. branch, or province, of the international Anglican Communion, whose spiritual leader is the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Opponents think Saturday's decision was more profound.

"We see something a little more unsavory going on," said the Rev. Keith Owen, rector of St. Paul's Church in Albany. "Some in this network have made it clear that their agenda is to overthrow the Episcopal Church."

The Albany Diocese includes approximately 20,000 congregants and 130 parishes from Catskill to the Canadian border.

Herzog and the leaders of 11 other dioceses established the Anglican Communion Network in January after a majority of U.S. bishops voted last August to ordain an openly gay bishop.

The ordination made plain a rift in the church over homosexuality and other issues.

Both sides characterized Saturday's hour-long debate before the vote as passionate but polite.

Those who opposed the vote said they expect that at least some of the dissenting churches will take public stands against the vote. But, said Owen, "We're not going to break away."