Former members of St. Francis in Somerset, including the Rev. Mark Zimmerman, who served as rector of the parish, have formed Somerset Anglican Fellowship.  The new congregation began meeting on January 20.  Both the mother and daughter congregations plan to continue in the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh.

 

The birth of a new congregation came about as members of St. Francis assessed their relationship to the national Episcopal Church.  Many, led by the Rev. Zimmerman,  desired immediate action to separate from the national church.  Others, while deeply disturbed with the direction of the national church, wished to take a slower course.  Instead of adopting a “winner take-all” approach, the two groups agreed that it would be best for both groups to simply form two congregations. 

 

“We have many multiple-congregation communities in the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh.  In a large number of those cases, especially in situations like this where the congregations in question embody different strengths, God blesses both bodies.  We will work and pray to see that happen in Somerset,” said Bishop Robert Duncan.