Gay issues prompt church to split: Trinity Episcopal Church in Vero Beach

Mark I. Pinsky
Sentinel Staff Writer
May 6, 2008

Another Central Florida Episcopal congregation has split over the issue of the denomination's policy on homosexuality.

Most of the members and ministerial staff of Trinity Episcopal Church in Vero Beach will leave their historic facility in July to form a new congregation separate from the Episcopal Church, USA, if an agreement is ratified later this week with the Diocese of Central Florida. The agreement would formally separate the two groups.

On Sunday, about 200 of the congregation's 700 members who wish to remain part of the diocese elected a new vestry, the congregation's governing board. That board is expected to sign a separation agreement already approved by the diocese and the departing members.

"I hope it shall be," said Warren Winchester, who was elected Sunday as the vestry's presiding officer. the rest