Chattanooga Anglican, Episcopal leaders say the dust-up between them is a family argument, not a divorce

Human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, center, demonstrates with others against the decision by the Anglican Communion to not allow the Episcopal Church to vote on decisions of policy and doctrine as a response to the Episcopal Church's acceptance of homosexuality and same-sex marriage. Human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, center, demonstrates with others against the decision by the Anglican Communion to not allow the Episcopal Church to vote on decisions of policy and doctrine as a response to the Episcopal Church's acceptance of homosexuality and same-sex marriage.

By Shawn Ryan January 23, 2016 6 min read

The Anglican Church and the Episcopal Church insist they are not at war.

However, a group of Anglican bishops have fired a shot across the Episcopal bow with the message: Stop where you’re at and reverse course or things could get really messy.

Some media reports last week made it seem as if the Episcopal Church was in danger of being tossed out of the Anglican family after it was suspended from voting for three years on issues of policy and doctrine within the Anglican Communion, which is made up of leading bishops – known as Primates – from the 38 Anglican provinces across the world, including the Episcopal Church in America.

While Episcopalian clergy and lay leaders can debate and discuss issues with other leaders in the Communion, they will have no official say in final decisions.

But the Episcopalians are still part of the Anglican Church and leaders on both sides say there’s no intention of kicking the them out. Local religious leaders from both Episcopal and Anglican churches say the situation is far more nuanced than that and is more of a family argument – though a very serious and intense one – than a divorce. The ultimate goal, they say, is for everyone to reconcile.