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Episcopalians, still severely divided over homosexuality, are uniformly hopeful that their new presiding bishop, a well-known liberal, can keep the flagging denomination from further falling apart.

Many Episcopal leaders, meeting at the 10-day general convention July 15-25, sensed a conciliatory spirit, reflected in the election of Chicago Bishop Frank T. Griswold III as the church's new presiding bishop to succeed the retiring Edmond Browning.

Griswold, 59, is known for his abilities to bring together arguing factions. In what began as a five-candidate race, Griswold emerged victorious over 63-year-old southern Ohio Bishop Herbert Thompson, the favorite of conservatives, by a 110-to-96 vote on a third ballot. Focusing on unity, Griswold told the assembled that he stands at the "radical center" of the church.

Bishop James Stanton of Dallas, president of the American Anglican Council, a newly formed coalition of organizations supporting conservative, orthodox Christianity within the Episcopal Church, expressed hope after Griswold's election. "He did say he was really interested in healing and unifying the church," Stanton said.

"He needs our prayers and has mine," said Todd Wetzel, executive director of Episcopalians United, a conservative reform movement. "He intends to listen. I believe he'll be fair."

WOMEN'S ORDINATION MANDATED: Yet, the vote by the convention to void a "conscience clause," which allowed conservative bishops to opt out of ordaining women, is setting the stage for the next big fight between liberals and conservatives.

By amending the church's canons, the convention is mandating that all 113 dioceses of the denomination—including the four still prohibiting women's ordination—allow women to function as clergy.

Even though the church has seven female bishops and about 1,500 women priests, a "conscience clause," which has existed since women priests were first approved by the church in 1976, has allowed bishops to forgo ordination of women and to prohibit them from serving parishes within their dioceses.

The new canon on women's ordination will require the four conservative bishops to end their policy of banning women priests within three years or face ouster from office. The dioceses of Fort Worth; San Joaquin, California; Eau Claire, Wisconsin; and Quincy, Illinois, still prohibit female clergy.

Fort Worth Bishop Jack Iker, one of the four holdouts, blamed radical feminism for the uncompromising language of the new canon. He urged a church committee recommending the change not to force him to violate his conscience by accepting female priests.

Likening himself to a conscientious objector, Iker said he would engage in open defiance of the measure.

"I will enforce the canons as best I can, but I will not comply with that which causes me to violate my conscience," Iker said.

Still, Iker and the other bishops opposed to female ordination have plans under way to allow women priests to serve within the four dioceses. The women would be ordained and supervised by bishops in neighboring dioceses.

Katie Sherrod of Fort Worth, vice president of the Episcopal Women's Caucus, said Iker's compromise plan is unworkable and does not fulfill the requirement that he accept women priests on an equal footing with male priests.

But she expressed hope that Iker would move toward compliance with the canon and would not be subjected to a "presentment," which could lead to a church trial to oust him from his office.

Bishops opposing female clergy had some unlikely allies: 88 women priests who signed a letter urging defeat of the canon amendment, saying it would cause the church to indulge "in the sin of impatience toward those who clearly differ from us."

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September 1 1997, Vol. 41, No. 10