Bishop William Love, who was disciplined by the U.S. Episcopal Church for refusing to bless same-sex marriages, has left the denomination.
Last year, Love, who served as the Bishop of Albany, was brought before a disciplinary panel after he told the clergy in his diocese in a 2018 letter to stop blessing same-sex marriages, Christian Today reports.
In the letter, Love told the clergy that Christ was "calling the Church to have the courage to speak His Truth in love about homosexual behavior — even though it isn't politically correct."
The bishop contended that same-sex relations "was never part of God's plan and is a distortion of His design in creation" and should be avoided.
The panel would conclude that Love was guilty of violating Resolution B012, a measure that the denomination passed in 2018 requiring all Episcopal dioceses to bless same-sex marriages.
Love announced his resignation as bishop after the trial. But the resignation did not become effective until February 1, 2021.
On Monday, Love published a letter to his diocese in which he disclosed that he has resigned from the Episcopal Church and will join the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA). Love served as the Bishop of Albany for 14 years before leaving the denomination.
He began the letter confirming that his last service with the diocese was on February 27.
"It was a joyful day worshiping our Lord with family and friends from around the Diocese and wider Church, yet it was also a sad day, knowing that would be my final service for the Diocese of Albany," he wrote.
"As a cradle Episcopalian (with nearly 30 years of ordained ministry as a deacon, priest, and bishop), that was not an easy decision, but given all that has transpired these past couple of years and the constraints placed upon me as a theologically conservative and orthodox bishop within TEC, I believe it is the right decision," Love contended. "I know not all of you will agree with this decision, and some may be angered or hurt by it, and for that, I am very sorry," he added.
Love stated that he hopes to be received in the ACNA in the "near future" and will share details regarding what he will be doing and where he will be serving in a separate announcement.
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Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer and content creator. He is a contributing writer for CrosswalkHeadlines and the host of the For Your Soul Podcast, a podcast devoted to sound doctrine and biblical truth. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary.
