Valley Episcopalians choose to focus on faith over gay issue
June 30, 2006

Episcopalians in the Coachella Valley would prefer to focus on their faith rather than on the issue of gay bishops.

That was the decidedly muted local reaction to a proposal by Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams for a two-tier Anglican church based on national church policy regarding gay ordination and the blessing of same-sex unions.

"I don't see a lot of turmoil," said the Rev. Dr. Robert G. Certain, priest at St. Margaret's Episcopal Church in Palm Desert. "We don't focus on these two issues. The two big things we do is education and outreach."

In a letter to bishops released Tuesday, the archbishop envisioned the possibility of an "associate," or nonvoting, membership for national churches that allow gay ordination and same-sex unions.

Lori Meena, a member at St. Margaret's, said she "wishes the issue wasn't an issue."
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