Encouraging News from Episcopals

A group of Episcopals from Virginia voted today to break ties with the Episcopal Church USA (check out my past blog about liberal denominations) and unite with a conservative Episcopal denomination. The group that is pulling out is one of the largest in America and traces its roots back to colonial days. They have chosen to allign themselves with Archbishop Peter Akinola of Nigeria, a man who has rightly called the acceptance of homosexuality a "satanic attack" on the church.
You'll remember that the Episcopal Church ordained an open homosexual, V. Gene Robinson, as a bishop in New Hampshire in 2003. Their position on the issue is anything but biblical. Bishop Peter Lee of Virginia has said that the denomination will fight the split, so we can expect a battle in the days to come. The American church's leader, "Bishop" Katharine Jefferts Schori, said that any division saddened her.
This is certainly a sad situation, but not for the reasons that Schori is thinking. The news of the split isn't sad at all. It's great! The sad part is that the conservatives are forced to make this decision. They have no choice but to leave this pagan denomination. I'm thankful for their difficult stand and pray that their tribe would increase!