Anglican Leader Tells Departing Episcopal Church of 'a Good Way Forward'

WASHINGTON, USA - A breakaway Anglican leader presented the mission of his conservative Anglican group to an embattled church that is preparing to vote on whether to leave the Episcopal Church.

Bishop Martyn Minns is missionary leader of Convocation of Anglicans in North America, a splinter group and outreach initiative of the Church of Nigeria. He recently visited Grace Church & St Stephen's Parish in Colorado Springs just weeks after its leaders voted to secede from the Diocese of Colorado and the Episcopal Church.

Speaking to Rocky Mountain News before the Wednesday, Bishop Minns said he would tell parishioners that CANA represents "a good way forward" at a time when the Anglican Communion itself appears to be fracturing.

"We're a mess," said Bishop Minns of the Anglican confusion, according to the local newspaper. "Many things are incoherent."

Leaders of the Colorado Springs parish had voted in March to leave the Episcopal Church in dissension over the liberal theological direction of the denomination. The Episcopal Church heightened controversy when it consecrated an openly gay bishop in 2003.

In December, Bishop Minns was part of a significant exodus of Virginian churches that voted to leave the diocese and national body. He and 11 breakaway churches have multiple lawsuits against them over church property.

"We're trying to find a way to remain faithful Anglicans during this time of turbulence," said Bishop Minns, according to Rocky Mountain News.

Meanwhile, Grace Church & St Stephen's Parish is being threatened with lawsuits against its rector, the Rev Don Armstrong, who says the diocese is persecuting him for his conservative views. He is accused of misusing hundreds of thousands of dollars in church money.

He and a majority of the church vestry voted to join Bishop Minns and his Anglican group, which consists of about 35 congregations and is growing. Bishop Minns said he was also in Colorado to support Armstrong - a friend for 30 years.

Parishioners of the Colorado Springs church are scheduled to vote on May 20 on the vestry's decision.