Can one be a "conservative" in the TEC?

[mmc48]

So I have been "church-shopping" per se, and I have been attending a local Episcopal church here in Tennessee. I tend to consider myself a Catholic sympathetic, in that I agree with many of the theological approaches that the RC takes. However, I disagree with some issues including some Mariology, birth control, and the barriers to marriage for non-Catholics, and it's overall absolutism.

I've recently sat down and spoke with the priest of the Episcopal church I've been attending, and he is certainly 'liberal' in a sense. I consider myself a conservative in theological matters (homosexual ordination being the topic I'm struggling with). The sense I get from the parish is one of overall left-leaning sympathies. Will I be marginalized if I have differing views on things such as homosexual ordination, etc? What about if I happen to move North, where I imagine I will be more of a minority as a conservative socially?

I know it may seem to be a silly question, but I appreciate the diversity within the church and hope that diversity doesn't signify "liberal sympathetic only"as it sometimes does (not to say that some conservatives aren't exclusive). Any opinions that one can offer would be great. Thanks!

[angli_fan]

Welcome to Episcopal Voices, mmc48!

I will be the first to admit that TEC is pretty liberal, but there's room for conservatives too. This may come as a surprise to some on this board, but I'm a pretty conservative person myself; I just don't happen to hold a conservative position on the current Anglican obsession. My conservatism tends to be governmental and economic, rather than social.

No doubt I hold some views that some of the "liberals" on the board would find distressing (for example, I voted for George W. Bush twice, and will, with some reluctance, be voting for John McCain this November :-) ). I have had occasion to roll my eyes at some of the "liberal foolishness" of my brother & sister parishoners, but we all manage to get along.

Admittedly I live in a "red state"(KY), so it's possible I'm in a somewhat more congenial atmosphere for conservatism that in some other parts of the country. How about the rest of you? Are you a conservative in a liberal TEC congregation? A liberal who knows a conservative? Lets hear some more opinions!

[bostonian]

I am a conservative and this has been a real problem for me. I love the Episcopal Church, but I am clearly the minority there.

Recently, my local church appointed a homosexual man as Pastor. I am not at all comfortable with that. As hard as it is, I need to find another Episcopal church to attend, but how do I know I won't have the same problem in another parish?

People on this forum have told me that some congregations are more conservative than others. I have not been able to locate them up here in the North.

[Swick]

Bostonian, if you live in the Boston area, both Church of the Advent in Boston and All Saints in Dorchester are conservative-by Massachusetts standards, anyway.

If having a gay priest is enough of a problem for you to change your church, you might very well have a problem; most priests seem to stay in their church about 5 years, so you whatever church you find might very well call a gay person in the near future.

One of the breakaway churches might be a better long term option, such as St. Paul's (AMiA I think) in Brockton; there is one on the north shore in Amesbury and one down south in Attleboro, but as far as I know none in the Boston area.

[bostonian]

Thanks for the info! The Church of the Advent in Boston would be a commute, but it could be done. How did you find out about that church? I checked its website and it doesn't specify a denomination. Are they an Episcopal Church?

[Swick]

You're welcome. The Church of the Advent is on Brimmer Street at the foot of Beacon Hill, and is one of the premier Anglo-Catholic churches in New England; yes, it is Episcopal. Although they are firmly against women's ordination, they currently have a woman deacon, who I know, and who does a really great job. Their liturgy is quite elaborate, precise, and beautiful.