History of Clashes Over Episcopal Doctrine

There was a time when church teachings were considered gospel--or close to it. If you disagreed, you kept it to yourself or you moved on.

These days, as society tackles one hot issue after another, churches find themselves having to keep pace. Some clashes in the Episcopal Church:

* Women priests: In 1974, 11 women were ordained by retired bishops despite the fact that ordination violated canon law. Sympathetic priests and members of the laity persisted in their arguments in favor of women clergy until the law was changed in 1976. Today, there are more than 1,500 women priests in the church; six are bishops. Four of the 100 U.S. Episcopal dioceses still refuse to ordain or hire women clergy.

* Prayer books: In 1979, an updated church prayer book was adopted. The biggest changes involved language. Elizabethan English such as “thee” and “thou” was out and sexist language was replaced by inclusive wording. (God, however, remained the Father.)

Some congregations were so unhappy that they refused to give up the old books; others still use them at certain Sunday services.

Several thousand Episcopalians, including clergy and laity, left the church over the issues of women priests and the revised prayer book. Some formed sects to preserve the old ways; several breakaway congregations still exist.

* Same sex unions: At the general convention for church leaders in 1994, the issue of clergy presiding over same sex unions was addressed. Official church teaching does not allow sex outside marriage or homosexual partnerships.

As a result, a group of bishops and laity formed to draft a report on the theological and pastoral aspects of creating a religious ceremony for gay couples. The report is due in time for the next general convention in 1997. If it is approved, a committee could be formed to design a religious wedding ceremony for gays.

* Power shifts: In May 1995, Ellen Cooke, the national church treasurer, was charged with embezzling more than $2.2 million. In December, Cooke was found guilty in a civil trial. She will be sentenced May 29. The widely publicized case called attention to what some see as a need to diminish the power of the national church. If that happened, the national church could receive less money as dioceses direct more funds to their own pastoral work. Some Episcopalians worry that each diocese might also adapt a freer interpretation of the church teachings, which could damage church unity all the more.