The Episcopal Synod of America has confirmed officially what its members knew intellectually: that apologists for non-celibate sexual relationships have breached communion with Episcopalians whose moral standards rest on scripture.

ESA's legislative body, meeting in Belleville, Ill., June 27-29, said the breach stems from the actions of clergy and laity "who teach or embrace (the) revisionist error" that noncelibate "lifestyles" outside marriage are Christian alternatives. The rebuke applies to heterosexual as well as homosexual relations conducted outside Christian marriage.

Speaker after speaker explained that the 21,000-member synod, rather than breaking communion with the offenders, was merely pointing to a condition the offenders themselves had created through their teachings.

"Those who sign the 'Koinonia' statement (supporting the ordination of noncelibate gays)," ESA's resolution reads, "or who knowingly ordain practicing homosexuals, authorize the blessing of same-sex unions, or teach the same, have broken communion with orthodox Christians until and unless they publicly recant."

The resolution urges "the faithful to avoid those who sow false doctrine and not to be yoked to those who do not share the faith."

In practical terms, according to the resolution, avoidance of false teachers involves refusing to receive communion from them; refusing to receive as parish members "any person who openly advocates such erroneous teaching"; and cutting off financial support to "any person, congregation, diocese or institution which has embraced this revisionist, erroneous teaching."

The resolution urges that synod members instead support "persons, congregations, dioceses and institutions which hold to the scriptural standards and the orthodox and catholic faith.

"It is with deep regret," the resolution states, "that we announce this action. However, it has been made necessary because all other means we have to call those in error to return to the truth have been to no avail. While the actions some have taken have broken communion, the recognition of such broken communion is not intended to be a punishment, but rather a call for those in error to return to the fullness of the faith and to embrace gospel truth. We urge all faithful members of the church to pray lovingly for the conversion and reconciliation of our erring brothers and sisters."

Several speakers expressed strong misgivings concerning such a dramatic step. However, the Rev. James Mahan, of Altus, Okla., said, "A year from now, we are going to be run out of this church. Does anybody feel we're not going to receive the left foot of fellowship? If I go out, it's going to be with a clear conscience."

On a show of hands, the resolution was adopted by a margin of about 2-1.

In its last meeting before the 1997 General Convention, the synod's legislative body called for unity among traditionalists. Separate resolutions praised the work of the American Anglican Council, Concerned Clergy and Laity of the Episcopal Church, and the Ekklesia Society. One resolution commended four women priests for decrying, at the Anglican Council's recent meeting, efforts to impose ordination of women on every diocese.

The legislative body also criticized Presiding Bishop Edmond L. Browning for backing President Clinton's veto of legislation outlawing "partial birth" abortion.