"The tension is getting strong," said the Rev. Doug McCurry, who resigned Jan. 23 as rector of Christ the Redeemer. McCurry started a new congregation, Legacy Church, that plans to affiliate with the Anglican Mission in America and operate under an Anglican bishop of Rwanda, Africa.

The first service, on Sunday at Young Meadows Presbyterian Church in Montgomery, drew 177 worshippers, "more than I've had since Easter," McCurry said. So far, about 160 members of Christ the Redeemer have applied for membership in the new church, he said.

Parsley responded with a written statement: "The members of Christ the Redeemer who are remaining in the parish will be pastorally cared for in the coming weeks by diocesan clergy staff, and in time by an interim priest. The worship, pastoral care and ministry of the parish will continue."

The Rev. John-Michael van Dyke, rector of Church of the Ascension, released a statement Thursday responding to a letter from the Diocese of Alabama. That letter threatens disciplinary action unless he promises not to renounce Parsley's authority and the authority of the Episcopal Church.

"The sole purpose of our actions and decisions all along have been to protect and nurture the Church of the Ascension, and the historic traditions and teachings of the Episcopal Church, and that's what I personally have always tried to do," van Dyke said in the statement. "It's encouraging that we've received so many strong expressions of support from so many members of our parish, and from the larger Christian community across the state and throughout the world.

Deep convictions:

"These are clearly representative of the deep convictions that exist regarding this issue and our position. We are confident God is still in charge and will work His will in the end."

In a written response to the situation at Ascension, Parsley said he had reached an agreement with the parish stating its membership in the Network of Anglican Communion Dioceses and Parishes "is a temporary situation, allowing them a means to express disagreement with some of the decisions of the 74th General Convention and move forward."

Parsley's written statement did not address the complaint against van Dyke that was filed with the standing committee of the Diocese of Alabama, charging him with violating the canons of the Episcopal Church by maintaining a relationship with the network.

In May 2004, Parsley issued a pastoral directive for his priests and churches not to be associated with the network, a conservative group formed to protest the approval of openly gay New Hampshire Bishop V. Gene Robinson.

Both Redeemer and Ascension had voted to associate with the network.

"We took the same stance," McCurry said. "Both of us were disobeying our bishop."

Parsley voted against Robinson. But "the ones who have taken a stronger stand, he's come down harder on us," McCurry said. "He sees the fabric of the institution being rent."

Met with Parsley: McCurry said he met with Parsley on Jan. 26 and asked for a transfer to the Province of Rwanda. Parsley declined, he said. Instead, McCurry said, he will be charged with abandoning the communion.

"I'll have six months to repent," McCurry said. "There are other people in the Episcopal Church in greater need of repentance. I'm a sinner, but leaving Christ Redeemer I do not see as a sin. I never preached against the Episcopal Church. I preached the Bible and it was being contradicted by the actions of the Episcopal Church."

END