SPARTANBURG: Church Splits Over Homosexuality-Half Of Members Leave Over Issue

June 3, 2008

SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- An Upstate church is going through a split over the topic of homosexuality.

St. Christopher's Episcopal Church in Spartanburg lost half of its 300 members. Those who left included Father George Gray, the pastor.

The departing members say their reasons for leaving include the church's acceptance of homosexuals in leadership roles in the church.

Truth Ministry, a group that partnered with the departing members, claimed that Gray was fired and the building seized by the Episcopal Church. But the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina said that claim is not true.

The Right Rev. Dorsey F. Henderson, Jr. said, "It was his resignation that prompted my action, which was not to seize any property. All property is held in trust in the Episcopal Church for the diocese."

The members who left created a new church called All Saints Church.

The bishop said that those former members are free to return to St. Christopher's. the rest-video