Local church members want to "Remain Episcopal"

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[eyeoutforyou.com] 13 Dec 2007--Earlier this week Eyewitness News spoke with clergy and parishioners of a local episcopal church, all in support of the historic split aligning the San Joaquin Diocese with the South American Anglican Church. We were then contacted by a rising group of people who say they represent the other side of the split, church members who want to remain episcopal. Church members like Stef Donev, who told us the Episcopalians left behind in the split feel as though they are in the middle and want to stay in their church. Donev is one of an increasing amount of people choosing to "Remain Episcopal" despite the recent split of the San Joaquin Diocese from the national church. The decision to separate came after a vote on Saturday over hotly debated issues including the bible and homosexuality. Donev tells Eyewitness News "The Episcopal Church in this Diocese has been emphasizing what they are against, what they are opposed to and who they do not want to pray with." On Wednesday we spoke with the president of "Remain Episcopal" who told us they plan to continue worshiping as Episcopalians. The group's president, Cindy Smith, says they will continue to do God's work in the Episcopal Church and support people for having different views, saying "We hope that we continue to have variations, that not everybody thinks the same, when everybody thinks the same you lose some level of creativity."