"We will remain Episcopalians and we will remain Anglicans."

Episcopal bishop John Howard is done with the sexuality feud that has rocked the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion.

Bishop Howard declared his flock will no longer be distracted by the sexual controversies that have consumed its energies for nearly two years.

Bishop John Howard of Northeast Florida has put an end to the international feud over sexuality which had spilled over into his diocese. He says that he will focus on ministry rather than recent divisive issues. The bishop wants to focus on gospel imperatives, prison outreach and youth ministry not on divisive issues of sexuality.

"We will remain Episcopalians and we will remain Anglicans," the Bishop said. "We will reject any movement and any resolution that would deter us from that course.” "We are not going to sacrifice either part of that identity," "We must remain both -- and we will."

He was strongly supported in this endeavor by the 162nd convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Florida, composed of 350 lay and clergy delegates, attended from 77 parishes in 25 Northeast Florida counties.

Traditionalists watched in dismay as both resolutions and candidates they supported were roundly defeated. They had presented a handful of resolutions not only calling for the diocese to distance itself from the National Episcopal Church but also to strengthen ties with the worldwide Anglican Communion. All those resolutions were defeated. Such resolutions included:

• A resolution to allow congregations that may leave the diocese to retain ownership of parish property.
  
  
• A resolution urging the diocese to declare itself "in serious theological dispute" with the denomination because the Episcopal Church is "in contradiction of Christian moral standards."
  
  
• A resolution prohibiting the diocese from forwarding parish money to the Episcopal Church.
  
  
• A resolution to seek oversight from the Anglican Communion.

All resolutions were defeated.

In his sermon, the Bishop called for reconciliation between the diocese and those theological Traditionalists who demand the Episcopal Church repent for its actions. "We may disagree and have heated conversations, but I insist we remain engaged ... and never, ever leave the table to which God has called us," Howard said.

After calling for dialogue, Bishop Howard pledged he would not let efforts at dialogue come at the cost of dividing the diocese, sidelining its gospel mission or ending its relationship with the Episcopal Church.

"Those who feel you must leave, I say, follow your conscience," Howard said. "But if you leave I will not follow you. I cannot follow you because I am charged with guarding the unity of this church." .