Friday, March 6, 2009

Split leads to new Homer City church


When a majority in the Pittsburgh Diocese voted last fall to break away from the Episcopal Church -- USA, expressing concern over what they see as growing liberal attitudes of the parent church, the decision sent ripples through congregations across 11 Western Pennsylvania counties.

In Indiana County, two small Episcopal congregations in Blairsville and Indiana were among those that opted to remain with the original parent church rather than following the lead of the newly realigned Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh -- Anglican. Those decisions, in turn, triggered a reaction: some members from each local flock formed a new church in Homer City, the Harvest Anglican Fellowship, that is affiliated with the realigned Pittsburgh Diocese.

The fledgling Homer City church is led by deacon-pastor Harold Hicks, who had joined Blairsville's St. Peter's Episcopal Church last summer as an assistant to the priest in charge there, the Rev. Arthur Dilg of Indiana.

When the Blairsville congregation decided to stay with the Episcopal Church -- USA, Hicks thought he might return to serve as a deacon at the church where he'd worshiped: St. Alban's Church in Murrysville, which has joined the realigned Pittsburgh Diocese.

Instead, he was asked to take charge of a new Anglican congregation in Indiana County, and he agreed to do so.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/blairsvilledispatch/s_614683.html

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