[...] As for American Episcopalians, they can only experience their break with the Anglican Communion as exhilarating. For years, TEC prided itself, somewhat pretentiously, on its “Anglican comprehensiveness” – that is to say, its ability to tolerate a variety of approaches and doctrines within the same church. That tradition has now been superseded in favor of a new, dominant tradition of New Prophecy. Like some modern Pentecostals, TEC believes that God introduces new revelations into the world – for example, through congenital sexual appetites — that can supplant scripture, tradition and even reason. New Prophecy has quietly established itself as the official orthodoxy of TEC, most of whose dioceses have been waging a slow war of attrition against orthodox priests and parishes. Many, perhaps the majority of Episcopalians believe it would be positively sinful to remain affiliated with a global church that rejects New Prophecy. That TEC has taken such a courageous stand against the Anglican Communion fills them with joy.

TEC’s position is not at all dire. Despite its anti-intellectualism and declining membership, TEC will always be the public face of “Anglicanism” in the United States. Just look around Manhattan: Trinity Church in lower Manhattan sits reproachfully atop Wall Street like a patient hostess amidst unruly guests; the Church of the Heavenly Rest on Fifth Avenue crowns Carnegie Hill with two massive piers standing like the very pillars of best society. TEC is the church of Groton School in Massachusetts and St. Paul’s School in New Hampshire – to this day, potent reminders that the former Protestant Establishment never exactly disappeared. TEC visibly admonishes onlookers: We were here first. Even TEC’s New Prophecy is pitched almost exclusively to upper class whites.

Episcopalianism is now inconsistent with Anglicanism. Remarkably, Anglicanism is just another example of the immigrant experience in America – that is, the experience of standing on the outside looking in. TEC will always be there for those who feel that they truly belong. Whether it had any valid theological claims was always beside the point.