Fort Worth Diocese to officially split from Episcopal Church today over social issues

Saturday, November 15, 2008
By SAM HODGES
The Dallas Morning News

Lanette Carpenter can't say enough about the people of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Hurst, especially choir members she has sung with for years.

They've walked with me through the best and worst times of my life," she said.

But the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth, including St. Stephen's, is to break officially from the Episcopal Church today, becoming the fourth diocese in the nation to leave since last year over such issues as the ordination of female priests and the acceptance of an openly gay bishop.

Though Ms. Carpenter doesn't agree with everything the Episcopal Church does, she loves it, and doesn't want to leave. the rest