Local Anglicans face crossroads over gay clergy, teachings

Conference comes as some struggle with which path to follow
BY NIRAJ WARIKOO
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER
July 21, 2008

For years, worshippers at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Livonia patiently put up with their diocese as it adopted a series of liberal changes that clashed with biblical tradition. But the breaking point came in 2003, when the Episcopal Church -- with the approval of the local diocese -- consecrated an openly gay bishop in New Hampshire.

After a testy meeting with Episcopal leaders, about two-thirds of the 300-member congregation bolted in 2006, leaving a church many of them grew up in. Two years later, they said they have no regrets. the rest