Two churches sever ties to Episcopal USA

SEATTLE – St. Stephen’s Church in Oak Harbor and St. Charles Church in Poulsbo on Tuesday severed their ties with the Episcopal Church USA, in part to protest the consecration of an openly gay bishop.

Rev. Carol Harlacher, St. Stephen’s rector, delivered the news in a meeting with the Rt. Rev. Vincent Warner, Episcopal Bishop of Olympia.

“After months and years of prayerful consideration, we must reaffirm the orthodox teachings of scripture, from which ECUSA has departed during the past 30 years,” Harlacher said. “The actions of ECUSA have destroyed the unity of the Anglican Communion.”

Members of both churches voted to disassociate from ECUSA on Sunday and placed themselves under jurisdiction of the Anglican Province of Brazil in the Diocese of Recife, which is a member of the worldwide Anglican Communion.

“To see ECUSA increasingly ignore the foundational teachings of Scripture has been painful and challenging for our church members,” St. Charles Rector Rev. Duncan Clark said.

The Episcopal Church USA has been rocked for consecrating New Hampshire Bishop V. Gene Robinson.