Anglican Tulsa rector says non-Western believers will eventually transform the church

By Brian Overall
World Staff Writer
7/12/2008

Excerpt:
The small congregation, averaging 250 on Sunday mornings, has struggled to build itself a permanent home since 2005, when it split from the Episcopal Church — the American wing of the worldwide Anglican Communion.

The congregation lost its church building, its financial support from the diocese and its link with other local parishes.

Turley, the rector, even lost his good standing with the denomination he grew up in. Episcopal officials don't consider him a legitimate priest anymore.

"It hasn't been an easy path for anyone," he says. "But the people here have followed their conscience."

Turley and this congregation — with thousands of other self-described Anglican traditionalists nationwide — left the Episcopal Church after Gene Robinson, an openly gay priest, was made a bishop in New Hampshire.

But don't say they left because of Robinson. That's like suggesting one straw of hay broke a camel's back.

The last straw was piled on top of "many, many other straws," Turley says. Full Article