PROGRESSIVE EPISCOPALIANS OF PITTSBURGH
6393 Penn Avenue, PMB 207
Pittsburgh, PA 15206-4010
Contact:
Joan R. Gundersen, President
Progressive Episcopalians of Pittsburgh
Telephone: +1 (412) 799-0440
E-mail: jrgunder@hotmail.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Episcopal Group Vows to Help
Return Pittsburgh Diocese to Health
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania — October 4, 2008 — Reacting to the vote by the
convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh to “realign,” Progressive
Episcopalians of Pittsburgh (PEP) has vowed to work with all members of the
diocese who remain in The Episcopal Church to return the diocese to health.
PEP is a group of clergy and lay members of the Pittsburgh diocese that was
formed early in 2003 in response to the realization that Bishop Robert Duncan
and other diocesan leaders were intent on extinguishing moderate and
progressive voices both within the diocese and in the wider church. This became
apparent in a divisive resolution passed at the 2002 diocesan convention in
anticipation of the 2003 General Convention. PEP supports unity in a diverse
Episcopal Church.
“The schism we have seen today has been long in coming,” said Lionel Deimel,
PEP board member and PEP’s first president. “It is an unhappy outcome and one
we would like to have avoided. Although we see challenging times ahead, we also
see an opportunity to build an Episcopal diocese that is less contentious and
more focused on the gospel imperative to minister to a troubled world.”
“PEP has always worked to bring traditional Anglican diversity to our diocese,”
explained Joan Gundersen, PEP’s president and one of six people on the steering
committee of Across the Aisle, a broad coalition of Episcopalians who have
sought unity and reconciliation in Pittsburgh. “We hope the individuals who
have left The Episcopal Church today find the spiritual home they are seeking.
The Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh will always be ready to welcome them should
they want to return to The Episcopal Church. Our task now is to make our
diocese a model of how people of different views can work together for Christ.”
One challenge that is still ahead is access to property belonging to the
church. PEP expects that the current efforts by Calvary Episcopal Church will
result in a favorable decision regarding diocesan property. “We hope that the
involvement of the courts in resolving distribution of parish property can be
minimized,” said Kenneth Stiles, a local attorney and a PEP vice president.
“Clearly, the continuing diocese and everyone in it, those who have chosen to
‘realign,’ and The Episcopal Church itself are all interested parties that must
resolve parish property issues. As much as possible, we hope to preserve the
possibility of a future reconciliation between the Episcopal Diocese of
Pittsburgh and at least some of the departing congregations.”
In the immediate future, PEP will work to create an effective, harmonious
diocese. Its long-term goals include promoting an understanding of and appreciation
for The Episcopal Church among Pittsburgh Episcopalians.
Contact:
Joan R. Gundersen, President
Progressive Episcopalians of Pittsburgh
Telephone: +1 (412) 799-0440
E-mail: jrgunder@hotmail.com
On the Web:
This document:
http://progressiveepiscopalians.org/html/2008-10-04convention.html
Progressive Episcopalians of Pittsburgh:
http://progressiveepiscopalians.org
Across the Aisle (non-realigning Pittsburgh Episcopalians):
http://episcopalpgh.org
The Episcopal Church:
http://episcopalchurch.org
Progressive Episcopalians of Pittsburgh is an organization of clergy and
laypeople committed to the unity and diversity of The Episcopal Church, and of
the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh. It is a member of the Via Media USA
alliance.
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