The Rev. William Murdoch, rector of All Saints Episcopal Church, was an early and sharp critic of the 2003 ordination of an openly gay man as bishop of New Hampshire. Next month, Murdoch will become a bishop himself, in a conservative Anglican group that is embracing congregations dissatisfied with the Episcopal church’s position on homosexuality and other issues.<\/p>\n
Murdoch says the current crisis in the Episcopal church has deep roots that extend beyond the ordination of gay clergy, an issue at the center of a growing global divide in the worldwide Anglican communion, of which the Episcopal Church is a part. Murdoch blames what he terms a “lack of clarity” from Episcopal leaders on the direction of the church.<\/p>\n
But he’s clear in the direction he’d like for himself and his parish. It includes remaining part of the worldwide Anglican communion, made up of nearly 80 million members in 38 regional or national churches, but not necessarily the Episcopal church.<\/p>\n
On Aug. 30, Murdoch and an Episcopal priest from Texas will be consecrated suffragan bishops by the Anglican Church of Kenya’s Provincial Synod, to provide oversight for congregations in the U.S. that place themselves under Kenyan jurisdiction.<\/p>\n
Murdoch will remain rector of All Saints Church even as he takes on this nationwide role.<\/p>\n