OHIO: Episcopal Churches split

Splits in Episcopal Church -- both within and from the Diocese -- could predict the future for other denominations
by WKSU's KABIR BHATIA
August 02, 2011

Christ Church Episcopal in Hudson split in half 8 years ago when parishioners disagreed on the ramifications of openly gay Bishop Gene Robinson's consecration.

Splits within the Episcopal Church continue to play out in Northeast Ohio - in the pews and in the courtroom. And that may forecast what will happen with other denominational churches as theological differences play out. WKSU's Kabir Bhatia reports on different paths some churches are choosing.

For Christ Church in Hudson, the split came from within. Half the congregation left in 2003 after an openly gay bishop, Gene Robinson, was ordained in New Hampshire. They set up a new church across town, Holy Trinity Anglican. At the same time, entire congregations of the Church of the Holy Spirit in Akron and St. Luke's in Fairlawn left the Diocese of Ohio. The pastor of St. Luke's, Mike Kraynak says Robinson's ordination was one of several concerns.

"One thing I believe is really tragic is the gay community gets blamed sometimes because it makes headlines -- that this separation is about homosexuality. Our decision to leave the Episcopal Church was really a result of several decades of drifting apart of theological understandings, such as the divinity of Christ, or the nature of salvation..."

The split meant moving St. Luke's spiritual affiliation across the world, first to the Anglican Church of Bolivia, then to Nigeria and eventually to the newly formed Anglican Church of North America.But it wasn't until the breakaways tried to transfer buildings and property as well that the Diocese sued. And now a Cuyahoga County judge has decided -- at least when it comes to the Episcopal church in Ohio - what was in the Diocese stays in the Diocese. the rest