Fred and Betty Haeberer of Stafford County said they felt betrayed when the Episcopal Church USA voted to approve an openly gay priest as bishop of New Hampshire.
Yesterday, they met with thousands of others who share their concerns over the direction of the church.
"Homosexuals are due their civil rights and I am in no way challenging that," said Fred Haeberer, who attends Aquia Episcopal Church near Aquia Harbour. "However, this is a spiritual realm and our church is founded on Scriptures that define homosexuality as a sin."
The Haeberers were among the 3,000 conservative Episcopalians who attended yesterday's "Plano-East" conference in Woodbridge. The two-day event that began Friday was a follow-up to a similar meeting held in Dallas in October to begin planning opposition strategy.
Members from 47 dioceses across the country gathered to express their discontent with the church for confirming the Rev. Gene Robinson's election as bishop and for officially recognizing that same-sex unions are being blessed in some dioceses. No formal action was taken; another conference is set for next weekend in Plano, Texas.
"I found it very refreshing. Our feelings about the biblical stance were affirmed," said Rick Rutherford, who attends the Church of the Messiah, an Episcopal mission church in Spotsylvania County.
The event was sponsored by the American Anglican Council, a network consisting of conservative bishops, clergy and laity within the Episcopal Church. It is not part of the structure of the Episcopal Church.
The council helped form the Network of Anglican Communion Dioceses and Parishes, a group of 12 dioceses that aims to realign itself with the worldwide Anglican Communion without separating from the Episcopal Church.
"This is a way to protect those who are being marginalized and persecuted for their faithfulness to the Gospel," said the Rev. Canon Martyn Minns, rector at Truro Episcopal Church in Fairfax.
He also encouraged parishioners whose leaders have supported the decisions made at the General Convention to form their own networks within their congregations.
Minns said he doesn't see the network as a schismatic act.
"The division has already occurred [when the church approved Robinson], but the network will give hope for those who belong to the biblical way of life," he said.
When asked if the network will eventually be deemed the true Episcopal Church in America, Minns said, "Only God knows, but we'll be ready."
The Anglican primates--international church leaders--will decide whether they want to recognize the network as the official expression of Anglicanism in the United States.
A. Hugo Blankingship Jr., chancellor of the American Anglican Council, said the council is not asking anyone to leave the Episcopal Church, especially since the church property belongs to the diocese.
One of the proposed programs to be discussed at next weekend's conference would assist people in orthodox parishes who feel their bishops aren't in line with their beliefs. Through the network, the congregation will be able to work with an orthodox bishop outside their diocese.
The Rev. John Guernsey, rector at All Saints' Episcopal Church in Woodbridge, said his church applied to the program because many members are disappointed.
The Rt. Rev. Peter James Lee, Episcopal bishop of Virginia, consented to the election of Robinson.
Guernsey's congregation asked Lee not to visit for confirmation services. In his place, Lee agreed to send his assistant, the Rev. Frances Gray, who opposed Robinson's election, Guernsey said.
"It would be more painful for the people [if Lee visited] because they feel betrayed," he said.
All Saints' also has joined other churches, including Truro and Aquia, in giving parishioners the option of not sending contributions to the diocese, he said.
Aquia set up a special church fund so tithes that would have gone to the diocese can be used for outreach programs or missionary work, said Betty Haeberer, who is taking courses at Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry in Ambridge, Pa.
Haeberer said this is a difficult time for Episcopalians.
"When people go to a particular church for years, they have friends and family there," she said. "They have to choose to stay there or leave."