Don't misjudge Episcopal Church split

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080724/OPINION04/807240361/1072

[Detroit Free Press] 24 Jul 2008--The Free Press should be ashamed of its July 21 front-page article "Churches at Crossroads." To write that "worshippers at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Livonia patiently put up with their diocese as it adopted a series of liberal changes that clashed with biblical tradition" is to blatantly take sides in an internal church controversy that the Free Press lacks the credentials to pass judgment on.

If anything, it was the rest of us in the Diocese of Michigan who "patiently put up with" the leadership at St. Andrew's as they scorned repeated efforts at reconciliation and dialogue.

It is misleading and harmful for the Free Press to imply that there is no room for conservative believers in the Episcopal Church. The Rev. C. Allen Kannapell is a sincere priest, and the people of St. Andrew's have every right to leave the Episcopal Church, but their motive for doing so is to avoid being contaminated by the presence of other sincere Christians with whom they disagree. To me, such behavior is not compatible with the teachings of Christ or with Anglican tradition.

The Free Press should strive for balanced coverage, not editorialize on the front page concerning matters of church doctrine and interpretation. Shame on you.