RELIGION
Isle delegates head to Ohio for Episcopal convention
Several Hawaii residents are delegates to the Episcopal Church's General Convention that will pick a new presiding bishop for the national church and debate the controversial issue of same-sex unions that has caused a deep rift in the denomination.
The convention that opens Tuesday in Columbus, Ohio, will tackle resolutions that will attempt to mend the division between branches of the Anglican Church worldwide. The American branch set off the controversy when its 2003 General Convention confirmed the election of a gay bishop who lives openly with his partner and declared that blessing of same-gender unions complies with the church's common life.
Anglicans in other countries responded with outrage and have questioned whether the American church can remain in communion with the Anglican Church.
Hawaii Episcopal Bishop Richard Chang will attend the convention. He is one of 311 bishops who are eligible to vote on the successor to Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold, who is retiring.
Their choice will be presented to the convention's House of Deputies for their acceptance.
Local delegates to the convention include:
» Clergy deputies: the Rev. Robert Fitzpatrick, the Rev. Darrow Aiona, the Rev. Morley Frech and the Rev. Liz Zivanov, with the Rev. Alison Dingley as alternate.
» Lay deputies: Ryan Kusumoto, Keane Akao, John Decker and Cynthia Salley, with Bettye Jo Harris as alternate.
Convention activities will be reported during its June 13-21 duration on the local diocesan Web site www.episcopalhawaii.org.