Contact: Dane Rose, National Clergy Council, 202-546-8329, ext 106; Reverend Rob Schenck, 703-447-7686 cell

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 /Christian Newswire/ -- The leader of the National Clergy Council, representing thousands of church leaders from Catholic, Evangelical, Orthodox and Protestant church traditions, today commended several Northern Virginian churches that have announced they have severed ties with the Episcopal Church.

Council president, the Reverend Rob Schenck (pronounced SHANK) attended today's joint news conference at the historic Truro Church in Fairfax, led by its pastor and newly consecrated Bishop Martyn Minns. Minns was joined by the Reverend John Yates of the Falls Church. Truro and Falls Church are the two largest Anglican congregations in Virginia, which is itself home to the largest Episcopal diocese in the U.S.

Schenck, who attends Christ the Redeemer parish in Centreville, Virginia, one of the congregations that voted with the group today, said of the action:

"The ordained and lay leaders of these churches have exhibited extraordinary spiritual courage and integrity. Bishop Minns, Reverend Yates and the other spokespersons from these churches made it clear they made this move to preserve the church's stand on the supremacy of Holy Scripture, historical Christian moral instruction and the salvation of souls by the work of Christ alone. By its radical departure from accepted Christian doctrine, the Episcopal Church has left not only worldwide Anglicanism, but has arguably left historic Christianity. The new Episcopal religion should be more accurately called New Age spiritualism.

"God bless these leaders and churches for their bold move. They're not just talking the talk, but walking the walk. They do so at serious risk to their properties and reputations, and that's the kind of brave Christ-like leadership our nation and the church needs."

Most of the congregations participating in today's event will now join with the newly established Convocation of Anglicans in North America (CANA), an affiliate of the doctrinally orthodox and highly evangelical Anglican Church of Nigeria.