California diocese vote to leave US Episcopal Church is a first

New York (ENI). For the first time since the American Civil War, fought from 1861 to 1865, an entire diocese of the US Episcopal (Anglican) Church has voted to leave the denomination. The 8 December vote by the central California diocese of San Joaquin follows disagreement with the national church hierarchy, which in 2003 approved the consecration of V. Gene Robinson, a divorced man who lives in a same-sex relationship, as the first openly gay bishop in the Episcopal Church. "This is a historic moment ... a vote for freedom," John-David Schofield, the diocesan bishop, told the gathering of about 88 clergy and 113 lay delegates meeting at St James Cathedral in Fresno, the Episcopal News Service reported. [458 words, ENI-07-0954]