BEARING THEIR CROSS
Gay bishop’s ordination blamed in congregation’s decline
By PAUL ASAY
October 14, 2006

They filed in by twos and threes, greeting old friends with smiles and hugs and tears. St. Francis Episcopal Church was full for the first time in years. But this was no celebration.

The 100 gathered had come to say goodbye to their church.

“This is the hardest thing I’ve ever done,” the Rev. Marty Pearsall told the congregation. He paused, staring down at the pulpit, struggling to find composure. A flat wooden crucifix, carved with a shallow image of Jesus, hung on the whitewashed wall behind him as it had for years. the rest