Loudoun Church Severs from Episcopal Diocese - WTOP Radio
Loudoun Church Severs from Episcopal Diocese - WTOP Radio:
Loudoun Church Severs from Episcopal Diocese
Updated: Sunday, Nov. 20, 2005 - 10:57 AM
SOUTH RIDING, Va. - A Loudoun County church has become the first to sever ties with the Virginia's Episcopal diocese over the denomination's election of an openly gay man to bishop.
The pastor of South Riding Church tells the Washington Post that his congregation voted to break from America's Episcopal church in a secret ballot last week.
The 90-member church decided to associate itself with the Anglican Church of Uganda instead.
Reverend Phil Ashey says the vast difference between the national church's values and those of his parishioners were becoming a drag on his congregation.
Bishop Peter James Lee of the 90,000-member Virginia diocese, the nation's largest, says he's saddened by the Loudoun church's decision.
He also says Ashey could face disciplinary action, and could even be defrocked.