Conservative Episcopalians urged to 'stand firm' regarding gay bishop issue

(RNS)-Conservative Episcopalians are being urged to "please stand firm a little while longer" and not leave the denomination until officials can develop an alternative network for dissidents.

David Anderson, president of the American Anglican Council, a Washington-based conservative group that led opposition to the election and consecration of an openly gay bishop in New Hampshire, said "any decision to leave now would be premature."

"If it is simply impossible for you to remain where you are ... then you may wish for the time being to consider gathering together with other orthodox Episcopalians in your same situation to form a new informal` congregation' that meets in a home or school," Anderson said in a letter to supporters.

Anderson said Bishop Robert Duncan of Pittsburgh has been named the moderator of a new conservative network that would provide oversight for parishes or clergy who oppose the denomination's positions on homosexuality.

The network, which would exist alongside the Episcopal Church, has the blessing of 13 bishops and, Anderson said, the leader of the Anglican Communion, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams.

The Episcopal Church is one of 38 autonomous churches in the 77 million-member Anglican Communion.

"I can personally assure you that there is an unwavering commitment on the part of the Anglican primates to ensure that you and I have an Anglican home now that the Episcopal Church has left the Anglican family," Anderson wrote.

At the same time, a separate group of Anglican churches that have broken away from the Episcopal Church met recently in Orlando, Fla., to "begin a common commitment to do mission collaboratively via a new federation."

The new alliance, spearheaded by the group Anglicans United, brings together the Anglican Mission in America, the Reformed Episcopal Church, Forward in Faith, and some members of the Episcopal Church. Most of the groups are not officially recognized by the archbishop of Canterbury.

The new federation will be overseen by Leonard Riches, presiding bishop of the Reformed Episcopal Church, which broke away in 1873 over doctrinal differences.

"We are committed to gospel initiatives which include ... clear evangelistic preaching that is ordered to bring people into the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ in a godly community of faith," said a statement adopted by the group.