[Richard] Crocker added that the congregation would consider its options but that reconciliation was unlikely.
“Our disagreements [with the Episcopal Church] are profound,” he said in an interview. Parishioners at St. James, he said, are “convinced of the appropriateness of the decision [to leave] and will see it through….”
Forty miles to the north, near the end of Sunday’s service at St. John’s, Kowalewski sounded a different theme: He said the Episcopal Church was “not a collective of individual operators.”
Kowalewski read a letter from the Rt. Rev. J. Jon Bruno, the bishop of the Los Angeles diocese, saying, “The Episcopal Church continues its long tradition of welcoming among its members a diversity of opinion, including loyal dissent. Our church remains a large tent expansive enough to include many views and voices while united in common prayer.”
After the service at St. John’s, just blocks from USC, congregants said they were hopeful the disaffiliated parishes would return to the church.
“I think you can have diverse opinions,” said Karen Uhler, 68.
Let us see how much longer there will be a diversity of opinions and TEC will honor loyal dissent.
“Diversity of opinions and TEC will honor loyal dissent?” You’re kidding, right? Surely you jest!