TRADITIONAL ANGLICAN BISHOP WELCOMES FORMER EPISCOPALIANS INTO HIS CHURCH

By David W. Virtue Portland, ME

The local Bishop of the nation's largest traditional Anglican Church said he would welcome former Episcopalians who have left their church because of the ordination of avowed homosexual ECUSA Bishop Gene Robinson in New Hampshire.

The Right Rev. George D. Langberg, Bishop of the Diocese of the Northeast, Anglican Church of America (ACA) said, "Our church is always open to those who feel the need to abandon those who have abandoned scripture."

He encouraged the parishes in his Diocese, which includes the six New England States and New York, to "reach out to those who are following the same path we have trod in our desire to hold onto our beliefs and stand up for our faith."

"There is always a place in the Anglican Church in America for those who hold true to scripture and embrace a traditional way of worship," Bishop Langberg continued. "Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have left the Church of the Redeemer in Rochester, New Hampshire and our hearts and our doors are open to those who seek a church that continues to stand firm in its faith."

The bishop's comments followed the visit of his church's primate, Archbishop John Hepworth, head of the largest Continuing traditional Anglican Church body outside the Anglican Communion. The Australian-born Archbishop visited Maine, New Hampshire and New York.

Archbishop Hepworth, the highest-ranking cleric in the Church, met with the clergy of the Diocese, attended the annual Blessing of Portland's Fishing Fleet and led worship at the Anglican Cathedral of St. Paul in Portland, Maine and Trinity Church in Rochester, New Hampshire.

The Australian-born Archbishop is the spiritual head of the Traditional Anglican Communion. The church has some 300,000 members in 42 countries including Africa, Australia, Europe, New Zealand, Asia and North and South America. The Archbishop is visiting church members on various continents over the next several months.

The Traditional Anglican Communion bases its theology and practice on Holy Scripture and the general councils of the undivided Christian Church of the first centuries after Christ, and its liturgy on the Traditional Book of Common Prayer of the historic Church of England.