THE WORD OF GOD DIVIDES ASUNDER The U.S. Episcopal Church is experiencing a schism. The underlying dividing issue is what constitutes the “sure word of God.” Marcus Borg frames the different perceptions of God’s Word in an “earlier” and “emerging” paradigm. Using Borg’smodel, I suggest that what is happening in the Episcopal Church is also occurring in the LDS church, though quieter and with less drama. The “schism” is between those who are certain the LDS Church has God’s final word and those who are less certain but still find a spiritual edification within the psychological and sociological framework of the institution.

H. PARKER BLOUNT and MICHAEL CALLISTER