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Why did some Episcopal congregations leave the church after disagreements about sexuality and ordination?

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The Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., features Gothic-style architecture with tall towers, pointed arches, and a large rose window above the main entrance. — The Episcopal Church Washington National Cathedral, Washington, D.C.

Some Episcopal congregations chose to leave the Episcopal Church (TEC) due to deep theological disagreements regarding the church's increasingly liberal stance on human sexuality and ordination practices.12

These tensions escalated significantly in 2003 when the church ordained V. Gene Robinson, an openly gay man in a noncelibate relationship, as a bishop. Traditionalists viewed this, along with the subsequent blessing of same-sex unions and the ordination of other openly gay clergy, as a departure from traditional Anglican doctrine. Additionally, the church's 1988 election of its first woman bishop, Barbara C. Harris, had previously drawn criticism from theological conservatives.12

In response to these developments, many traditionalist congregations sought to preserve what they considered orthodox values. This movement led to the secession of several dioceses and parishes, which eventually culminated in the 2009 formation of the Anglican Church in North America. These departing groups sought to maintain their connection to the broader Anglican Communion while rejecting the progressive theological trajectory of the American church.312