Conservative Episcopalians in the United States are breaking off from the Episcopal Church to form a rival denomination. Doctrinal disagreements have been common in the Episcopal Church over the last several years as the stances taken by the church have become more liberal. Tensions came to a head in 2003 when the church elected its first openly gay bishop. The breakaway group, which claims 100,000 members, asserts that it is more truly in line with classic Anglican doctrine. In response, the North American Episcopal Church asserted its own legitimacy as the recognized branch of Anglicanism in North America, and stated, “There is room within The Episcopal Church for people with different views, and we regret that some have felt the need to depart from the diversity of our common life in Christ” […]