Washington, USA - A second Anglican church has severed its ties with the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia because of differences concerning the consecration of an openly gay bishop in 2003.
The unanimous vote by 88 members of the Church of the Holy Spirit in Ashburn on Sunday came after a similar move by a congregation in South Riding, which left the diocese in November.
Both churches have joined the Anglican Church of Uganda, a separate branch of the 77-million-member worldwide Anglican Communion.
"We felt that the Episcopal Church was redefining scripture and what it means. Also, we felt that they had redefined who Jesus is. The gospels, the Old Testament -- Jesus treated these things as the word of God, and they are changeless," said Ron Doucette, a member of the Ashburn congregation.
The Virginia diocese has faced a possible schism since Bishop Peter James Lee voted for the consecration of New Hampshire Bishop V. Gene Robinson.
The Ashburn congregation was established as a mission by the more than 2,000-member Truro Church in Fairfax City, with the goal of becoming a self-sustaining church. Since then, it has received financial support from the Truro church and a cumulative $135,000 from the Diocese of Virginia, according to the diocese's figures. The church declined further support from the diocese in 2003.
Church of the Holy Spirit, which advertises a membership of 230 on its Web site, owns no property and holds services at Mill Run Elementary School in Broadlands.
The Rev. Clancy Nixon, vicar of the church, said that its affiliation with the diocese was hampering its ability to grow.
"We're trying to start a new church and attract people to us, but as an Episcopal church, people in the public have a certain idea of what that is." He said the church could not send "mixed messages" if it wanted to gain strength and membership.
The Rt. Rev. David Colin Jones, one of three bishops serving the diocese -- with 90,000 members, the largest in the nation -- responded to the church's decision yesterday:
"I am saddened and disappointed by the decision of Clancy Nixon and his congregation. I do not believe that their departure is necessary. I continue to believe that there is room for Clancy Nixon and his congregation in the Diocese of Virginia and in the Episcopal Church."
The diocese maintains that Nixon lacks the authority to remove himself from the Episcopal Church, and it will determine what his standing as an ordained minister within the church will be.
The Rev. Phil Ashey of South Riding Church was removed from the priesthood of the Episcopal Church in December.
Patrick Getlein, spokesman for the Virginia diocese, said he was concerned about what precedent the act would set for the "195 congregations, now 194."
"I sincerely hope that there won't be others. But my fear is that yes, yes, there will be," he said.