Through local and national media most Episcopalians in the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth know their diocesan bishop, Jack Leo Iker, is at odds with the Episcopal Church of the United States of America 's Female Presiding Bishop, Katharine Jefferts Schori. Local Episcopalians are worried Bishop Iker will take their church property and put its oversight in the hands of an anti-gay-male African Bishop because he rejects oversight by a woman.

The quandary is that Bishop Iker doesn't embrace the essence of the Episcopal faith: reason, tradition and scripture. From scripture we learn all human beings are created equal in the sight of God and in his image, and God commanded us to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. I believe Bishop Iker is saying to those who may follow him away from the Episcopal faith, "If you follow me you will no longer have to accept the biblical tenet: all human beings are created equal; or be bound by the covenant: love thy neighbor as thyself. You won't have to consider women or homosexuals as equals and you will no longer be compelled to love them as you love yourself."

In spite of what Bishop Iker believes, we aren't living in biblical times! Episcopalians know the love of Jesus Christ isn't sexist. In this great nation vital religions and even the Republican Party are breaking the shackles of chauvinistic men in order to be relevant.

The more devout people learn about God's creation the more they understand human equality and the hypocrisy surrounding it. Enduring faith has to accommodate insight into God's creation through scientific revelation. To this end the Episcopal Church has embraced sexual orientation as an innate part of the human condition.

The Episcopal faith is an essential religion because it balances scripture, reason and tradition. It uses scripture as a foundation for reasonable change in tradition based on insight into the evolution of the universe. As an Episcopalian and physician I have been encouraged to ask questions about God's creation, and as a result have gained a better understanding of God's love through Jesus Christ. Episcopalians aspire to love every human being as Christ does.

By trying to divide people by gender and sexual orientation, Bishop Iker appears to mock the love of Jesus Christ. Christ's love is inclusive. The love of the Episcopal Church is inclusive. Bishop Iker has chosen to be divisive. If Bishop Iker doesn't see Christianity the way Episcopalians do, then he should leave the Episcopal Church and take those who can't accept new revelations about God's creation with him, but he shouldn't be allowed to hijack Episcopal Church property for his regressive venture.

Hugh T. Lefler, Jr., M.D.