Illinois Episcopalians face historic vote

By Deirdre Cox Baker
Sunday, October 19, 2008

The Episcopal Church of the United States dates back almost as far as the Revolutionary War. In Illinois, it was organized 173 years ago. And the Episcopal Diocese of Quincy, Ill., has existed for well more than a century.

But if all goes as expected, the Diocese of Quincy will soon leave the parent church and align itself with the Anglican community based in South America.

A rift that has existed for decades broke open in 2003 after the Episcopal Church of the United States consecrated its first openly gay bishop, V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire.

“This is an example of how far the Episcopal Church has moved to a contemporary liberal theology,” said the Rev. John Spencer, a spokesman for the diocese that includes Christ Church, Moline; Trinity Church, Rock Island; and St. Mark’s Church, Silvis, Ill. “It’s just not grounded in Scripture anymore.”

A formal vote is scheduled Nov. 7-8. If approved, the western Illinois diocese would join others — based in Fresno, Calif., Pittsburgh and 15 parishes in Virginia — that have found a new home with the conservative Anglican Province of the Southern Cone in Argentina. A diocese in Fort Worth, Texas, also will vote on realignment in November. the rest