NEW YORK, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- The Episcopal Church USA is undergoing a sea of change in its membership, with conservatives leaving and progressives joining.
The New York Times reported Monday the turnover is a direct result of the church's decision this year to ordain an openly gay bishop.
While it remained unclear whether the changes would enlarge or diminish the Episcopalian Church's membership, the most common membership migrations were to and from the Roman Catholic Church.
"It breaks my heart," said Dr. Shari de Silva, a neurologist in Ft. Wayne, Ind., who converted to Catholicism from the Episcopal Church. "I think the Episcopal Church is headed down the path to secular humanism."
Meanwhile, some Episcopal parishes are welcoming new members, many from Roman Catholic churches.
"I don't see how and why God would want his church, his worshipers, his sons and daughters to become carbon copies of each other," said Youssef El-Naggar, a former Roman Catholic in Front Royal, Va., who recently joined an Episcopal church there.
