CONSERVATIVE ANGLICANS MAY SPLIT OFF.

Byline: PATRICIA FARRELL AIDEM

Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA -- A worldwide rift in Anglican churches over the ordination of a gay Episcopal priest is being felt in Santa Clarita, where plans are under way to establish a conservative offshoot.

The African-based Anglican Mission in America is advertising locally to see how much interest there is in the church, a breakaway from the more liberal Episcopal denomination.

Both are under the umbrella of the Anglican Communion, the third-largest Christian denomination in the world.

"A number of families are interested in starting a new parish," said the Rev. Jim Obermeyer, an Anglican priest now on sabbatical in Phoenix.

"The plan is to see, after having the ads in the paper, to hold a meeting and decide how we want to proceed."

The movement was triggered by three Santa Clarita families who approached Obermeyer to help establish the new congregation. He plans a meeting next month.

Anglican Mission founding members are primarily former Episcopalians angered over that church's acceptance of gay priests, same-sex unions and women in the priesthood.

And while there have been women Episcopal priests for more than 30 years, the ordination in 2003 of openly gay Bishop V. Gene Robinson in New Hampshire galvanized conservative forces.

The Rev. Lynn Jay, pastor of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Santa Clarita, said the move to establish an Anglican Mission parish in the area is driven by a "very conservative few."

"This is the history of people," said Jay, a woman who was ordained 25 years ago. "We get upset at something and we start the Church of Bob. And then the Church of Bob will break up and we go to the Church of Charlie.

"Most of us simply stay and duke it out with God in the church."

The rift eased in recent weeks when the Episcopal Church agreed to temporarily halt pro-gay actions, though leaders said they will not move backward and vowed to protect the civil rights and dignity of gays.

The statement came just before the Sept. 30 deadline set by Anglican leaders who will meet in February in Tanzania for their biannual leadership conference.

Nevertheless the Anglican Mission is growing in numbers across the nation.

Locally, the fledgling congregation plans Bible studies, regular services and support for parents who home-school their children, Obermeyer said. Home-schooling allows parents to instill Christian values while controlling outside influences, he said.

pat.aidem(at)dailynews.com

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