Church Takes Stand Against Actions in Convention

A Shreveport Episcopal church has taken out a newspaper ad to explain its position on marriage, the election of a gay bishop and the authority of the Scripture.

St. Paul's ran an ad in The Times Tuesday, saying it would "disassociate" itself from the actions taken at last month's general convention of the Episcopal Church in Ohio.

Father Guido Verbeck of St. Paul's said he believes the issues are causing the Episcopal Church to split and that churches must choose sides.

St. Paul's chooses to be an "orthodox" church, Verbeck said, and other parishes will soon have to choose between traditional Christian teachings or newer views of the Gospel.

"That was clear at General Convention: It was going to be one way or the other," Verbeck said. "No more fence sitting; no more middle ground or trying to avoid the issues. The issues have come. They have overtaken us and the decisions are going to have to be made."

Father Kenneth Paul of Church of the Holy Cross Episcopal in Shreveport said he supports what the general convention has done. Paul said he believes it conveys the Episcopal Church is an inclusive faith and does not dictate who's in and who's out. the rest