Somerset Anglican Fellowship reaches agreement with Episcopal diocese

From Somerset PA-

The Somerset Anglican Fellowship resolved a three-year dispute with the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh Monday.

Property and legal disagreements arose in 2008 after members of St. Francis-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church decided to break apart from the diocese because of theological differences. St. Francis is located in Somerset.

Under the supervision of the Rev. Mark Zimmerman, the Somerset Anglican Fellowship formed and began holding services in a suite at Georgian Place.

“When we left St. Francis, we left everything,” Zimmerman, who was ordained in 1986, said. “We found ourselves without chalices, without Communion materials — so we went to the diocese, found some items we needed and brought them to the new facility.”

Zimmerman and his followers left the church in order to pursue a stricter interpretation of biblical Scriptures.

“Churches have two choices: They can seek to impact culture with the Gospel or allow culture to influence the Gospel message,” he said. “Once you start whittling away at the Gospel, where do you stop?”

Under the terms of Monday’s agreement, the congregation must return all diocese property and promise not to support any litigation other churches may bring against the diocese. Zimmerman said the church has 30 days to return all diocese property, such as hymnals and other church materials.

More here-

http://www.dailyamerican.com/da-ot-somerset-anglican-fellowship-reaches-agreement-with-episcopal-diocese-20110214,0,993468.story