The Peoria-based diocese, which held its governing meeting Friday in Quincy, is aligning with the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone

By STEVE EIGHINGER

Herald-Whig Staff Writer

The Diocese of Quincy's governing synod voted resoundingly Friday to leave the Episcopal Church.

The announcement came late Friday afternoon during the group's meeting at Quincy Country Club and punctuated a stormy, five-year period in which the Diocese of Quincy and some of the other conservative-leaning dioceses around the nation have either left -- or threatened to leave -- the Episcopal Church.

At the heart of the controversy has been the Episcopal Church's stand on homosexuality, specifically the 2003 consecration of Bishop Eugene Robinson of New Hampshire, a homosexual, and the acceptance of same-sex unions.

Also creating a firestorm has been some Episcopal church leaders saying the doctrine of the Trinity is open for debate.

The Peoria-based Diocese of Quincy has aligned with the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone, which covers the southern portion of South America and is headquartered in Buenos Aires, Argentina. A congratulatory message arrived from Buenos Aires after the vote was official.

The former St. John's Episcopal Church in Quincy, now known as "St. John Parish, an Anglican Church," is part of the Diocese of Quincy.

The Peoria, Rock Island and Quincy deaneries make up the diocese, which has 24 churches and missions and about 1,800 members.

The vote to leave the Episcopal Church was 95-26. The synod is made up of both clergy and lay representatives. The lay vote (54-12) was a bit more lopsided than the clergy ballot (41-14).

Both sides issued emotional pleas before the vote, but the majority of the comments favored aligning with the Southern Cone.

"Fifty-five years ago I converted from agnostic to Catholic Christianity, and that path has not changed -- but the Episcopal Church has changed and I cannot accept that," said the Rev. Lewis Payne of Quincy, a retired Episcopal priest who is presiding over the Quincy Deanery on an interim basis.

Those who were against leaving the Episcopal Church said such a move would result in lawsuits over property, financial resources and others assets, plus a "broken Christian family."

Others against the move said it was necessary to stay and "fight against the failures of the Episcopal Church" and "save the Episcopal Church from itself."

Those who favored leaving repeatedly said liberal leaders of the Episcopal Church had failed to follow the teachings of scripture and had abandoned the belief that "Jesus is the way, the truth and the life."

Don Gnuse of Quincy, who is a longtime member of St. John's, said he supported the decision and could see it coming for some time.

"Large groups, though, tend to move slower," said Gnuse, who was attending the synod as visitor.

Gnuse said the Episcopal Church in the United States has people in many foreign countries "just shaking their heads."

"There are now (Anglican) churches in South America and Africa who feel things have gotten so bad in America they are sending missionaries to us," Gnuse said. "They have told us, 'You brought Christianity to us years ago and now we need to do the same (in return).' "

In 1998, the Anglican Communion denounced homosexuality as incompatible with scripture and reaffirmed that stance a year ago. The Episcopal Church USA is the province of Anglican Communion in the United States.

The Anglican Communion is the third largest denomination in the world, after the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox churches. Some of the churches are known as Anglican, while others prefer a separate name.

-- seighinger@whig.com / 221-3377