Source: The Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A35056-2004Mar5.html
On March 6, 2004 The Washington Post reported, "Episcopalians who do not want their church to split over the consecration of a gay bishop plan this month to establish a nationwide alliance of clergy and laity who stand for moderation, tolerance and inclusion, leaders of the movement said yesterday. Representatives of 11 regional Episcopal groups that go by different names but collectively call themselves Via Media -- Latin for 'middle way' -- will gather March 25-27 in Atlanta to 'swap notes, meet each other and plan strategy,' said Lionel Deimel, president of Progressive Episcopalians of Pittsburgh. Deimel said the Via Media groups have some members on both sides of the thundering debates in the church, including whether to bless same-sex unions and whether to support the election of V. Gene Robinson, who is to be formally installed tomorrow as New Hampshire's bishop. 'But,' he added, 'we are united in having a view of the Episcopal Church as being a welcoming, inclusive church with broad tolerance of theological differences.'"