Dissidents in the Episcopal Church, angered by last year’s consecration of an openly gay bishop, have formally launched a new “network” to act as a church-within-a-church for traditionalists. Some 100 conservative leaders from 12 dioceses met January 19-20 at Christ Church in Plano, Texas, to approve a charter for the Network of Anglican Communion Dioceses and Parishes.
When Frank Griswold, the presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, suited up for the consecration service in November for the bishop of New Hampshire, he added something extra to his flowing gold vestments—a bullet-proof vest.
The vest was a security precaution, Griswold told Religion News Service. The church leader said he had insisted on presiding at the ordination because “if there had been violence, and some other bishop had been the recipient of that violence, I would have felt personally responsible.”