The Washington Post has a front page article on the vote of seven conservative Episcopalian parishes in Virginia that have voted to leave the US Episcopal Church and affiliate with the Episcopal Church of Nigeria.
Two of the congregations are among the state’s largest and most historic: Truro Church in Fairfax City and The Falls Church in Falls Church, which have roots in the 1700s. Their leaders have been in the vanguard of a national effort to establish a conservative alternative to the Episcopal Church, the U.S. wing of the 77 million-member worldwide Anglican Communion.
[…]
The votes are fresh evidence of an increasingly bitter split within the U.S. Episcopal Church. Seven of its 111 dioceses have rejected the authority of Presiding U.S. Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, installed in November as the first woman to head an Anglican church. Schori supports V. Gene Robinson, an openly gay man elected bishop of New Hampshire in 2003.
So it seems it the split is about women and gays. How refreshing.
Mason Conservative reported on the issue earlier this month. In the comments is one from NLS, in which he says that Truro is the church of Chap Petersen. The WashPo article says that “more than 90 percent of eligible voters resolved to sever ties” with the US church.
Was Chap in the”more than 90%” crowd? If so, why? If not, why not? Will this be an issue in the upcoming campaign?
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 
What they did to Tim Kaine was absolutly disgusting, and maybe that is where we disagree. You seem to think that was ok, and other candidates should have to answer similar questions. I think we should make it clear those kinds of questions are unacceptable!
NLS, You’re not making sense. Vivian’s not picking on a church. Chap Petersen happens to attend a church that has taken a radical step to align itself with a homophobic bishop in Africa supporting the jailing of both homosexuals and the press that reports homosexual activities. She has asked where he stands on that action and why.
Seems legitimate and logical to me. We ask supreme court justices where they stand on abortion, separation of church and state, civil rights….why not ask a candidate?
I find that quite funny, Ben. You were the one who brought up Chap’s church attendance, in conjunction with the MC post about the exact same thing. There’s nothing private about running for office, Ben. You should know that. You have run, right?
Everything is an open book when you run, including religious beliefs.
I just checked your blog archives for the month of October 2005, when the death penalty ads against Tim Kaine were released. I could find no mention of your being disgusted about them. Where was your outrage then, Ben?
Last say for the night, when someone is running for office to represent me, I sure as heck want to know where that candidate stands on all issues that affect me and my fellow Virginians. If I have a suspicion that a candidate may hold a religious conviction that violates civil rights then I have a right to inquire.
Like Mr. Kaine, if Mr. Petersen runs for public office, he should be expected to answer any questions that are asked, even if he says that it is no one’s business!
Vivian, I understand you were very busy in 2005, but when NLS started it spent 2005 focused on House of Delegates races and I only rarely mentioned the statewide contests- mainly because others were covering them.
Vivian, I have no problem with chatter about this, I have a problem with demanding someone explain their faith- that is unacceptable to me.
If Chap voted for this monstrosity (to leave the church because they accepted 10% of the population), he’s lost my support! (and i dont know that he has, but its certainly a question he should answer… and soon)
This is the civil rights of the 21st Century, you’re either with us, or you are a bigot, i hate to make statements like this, but its true. This is a battle for the future of America.
At the risk of raising NLS ire, I think Vivian asks a reasonable question.
I am a episcopalian by marriage (originally brethren), and our little church wrestles with the same issues as Truro. We are church shopping because it appears our little church also wants to take the Truro path.
It is not an easy question for many, and a reason why this is getting such attention is that the churches that are leaving are large, large churches. The WaPo notes that the eight churches that voted to go represent 5% of the 90,000 members of the Diocese of Virginia…Note that Virginia is divided among three dioceses…the Diocese of Virginia runs from NoVA down to Richmond, followed by the Diocese of Southern Virginia and the Diocese of SW Virginia.
I am getting off track. Ultimately, I suggest that the reason that this is a fair question to ask Chap! is that this matter can be viewed as either a matter of faith (NLS) or church administration (VJP). I view it as the latter.
This is an issue that is way bigger than any one individual, even if that individual is a public figure. I don’t know the intensity with which Chap adheres to his faith, but it sounds like he was presented with a “Sophie’s Choice”. How agonizing for him. I say leave him alone for now. I trust we will hear from him in due time. Judge not lest you be judged. I’m a pro-choice Catholic. Think of all the ways I could be hung out to dry.
As an Episcopalian since birth, I believe it is naive to suggest that we do not have the right, or indeed the moral obligation, to ask where our candidates for elective office stand on the issue of how homosexuals are to be treated by our society. If you’re not sure why you should be concerned, and what it might mean for the future of our country, here’s a somewhat frightening article you might want to read which might provide some food for thought:
http://www.theocracywatch.org:80/chris_hedges_nov24_04.htm
I tend to think Peterson voted for the split. Isn’t he pro-life already? He has constantly run as a “moderate” Democrat, and that usually means a bit conservative on social issues. What will be interesting is that if Chap declares which way he goes, will he face a revolt? This is definatly a seat IN PLAY big time, and will NOVA Progressives be willing to purge Chap for a candidate more ideologically pure?
Eileen,
You are being naive. You have clearly never met Chap! He is not timid, and he is no fool. He is very right of the Democratic base, maybe too conservative. More word is coming out that his family has been a part of Truro for a couple of generations.
Vivian,
Jon Stewart and the Daily Show just made fun of Falls Church and Truro. Yep, the Nigerian connection, etc. He spoke about it during the first 10 minutes of the show.
Why are you the only blogger in Virginia discussing this issue? Again, I applaud your for asking these questions.
Not Chap, his parents house backs up to Truro, I wouldn’t be surprised depending how old the church is if Chap’s grandparents didn’t donate the land for it. As Eileen said, I’m sure this was a difficult NON POLITICAL decision for him.