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 Episcopal Meeting Stresses Unity San Antonio Express-News (TX) Metro and State News Page 03B Abe Levy EXPRESS-NEWS STAFF WRITER Publication Date : February 22, 2008 Hundreds of Episcopal clergy and lay leaders from South Texas kicked off a three-day annual business meeting Thursday in San Antonio. They were celebrating local and worldwide mission work and their ability thus far to stay together despite mounting tensions between the national church and the worldwide Anglican Communion. At the helm of the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas is Bishop Gary Lillibridge, a homegrown minister known for building consensus through measured leadership. His reputation earned him a spot on an international committee charged with recommending a road map for unity among the 77 million-member Anglican Communion. Some U.S. Episcopal churches have severed ties with the national body, the Episcopal Church USA, in protest of its approval of an openly gay bishop five years ago, opting to affiliate with unsanctioned Anglican bodies, including those tied to conservative dioceses in Africa. The West Texas diocese is based in San Antonio and has nearly 28,000 members, whose opinions on homosexuality run the gamut but who so far have remained united. Lillibridge was named this month to one of six positions on the Windsor Continuation Group that will address concerns about a plan for Anglican unity, called the Windsor Report, that "expresses regret" for U.S. approval of a gay bishop and calls for the practice to end. Although some U.S. bishops support the plan, others have formed factions that threaten the denomination's stability. "I think the majority of this church wants to find some way forward without breaking apart," Lillibridge said Thursday. "But I know there are people on both sides of the issue who feel there are irreconcilable differences and we should go our separate ways." The Windsor Continuation Group is one of four entities doing work in advance of the Lambeth Conference, a once-a-decade meeting of leaders of the Anglican Communion that is often a focal point for historic and sometimes divisive decisions. Five Anglican bishops from Africa and South America have vowed to boycott it in protest of the 2003 ordination of New England Bishop Gene Robinson, who is gay. "We hope to do something of significance to help move the communion forward," Lillibridge said. "People have to have the will to hold the communion together and believe Anglicanism is worth saving." He added, "I think things are going to be more difficult than easier in the short run." This week's meeting -- the 104th Annual Diocesan Council, which concludes Saturday -- is expected to draw nearly 1,000 people, including about 500 lay and clergy delegates from the 90 churches in the diocese, an area from the Rio Grande Valley to San Antonio to Corpus Christi. The diocese had 27,882 baptized members in 2002 but lost several hundred in subsequent years before increasing to 27,690 in 2006, the last year for which records are available. The only known resolution this year is to support the nonprofit agency Habitat for Humanity, although resolutions can be made from the floor if two-thirds of the delegates approve. Delegates with opposing views about church policy on homosexuality said they believe Lillibridge's focus on fostering established ministries and personal devotion to Christ is the best path to follow. "Where would we be if we had votes on this issue and created winners and losers?" said Rick Mashburn, a delegate from San Antonio's St. Paul's Episcopal Church, which describes itself as an "inclusive" congregation of diverse races and sexuality. "If we can keep everyone together, even if it takes longer, I think we're better off." Christ Episcopal Church in San Antonio is known for its emphasis on theologically conservative doctrine and has built ties with the African bishops at odds with national Episcopal leaders. It remains an active and supportive member of the diocese because of Lillibridge's leadership, said Garry Schnelzer, a former senior warden at the Monte Vista congregation and nominee for the diocese's executive board. "Christ Church is in accord with its bishop," he said "His actions correspond to his words. And that's not true of the majority in the national church." alevy@express-news.net 
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