Is the Episcopal Church Now A Sect?

I shall be posting on the aftermath of the big elections this weekend in the Episcopal Church. Get Religion has a interesting article on if the word "sect" should be used. See Are Episcopalians now a ‘sect’?.

First I am looking at this from a non Catholic angle. In the Catholic viewpoint the only Churches are the Catholic and Orthodox. That is because the Catholic Church looks at Apostolic Succession and the celebration of the Eucharist as the essential elements to be called a "Church". The Catholic Church uses Christian communities for most other Christian bodies instead of "Church".

How will journalists handle this. I guess a lot depends on what the Anglican Communion does if the new Bishop of L.A. is confirmed. In many ways these schismatic Catholic groups are"sects" because they "formed a distinct unit within a larger group by virtue of certain refinements or distinctions of belief or practice". So if that word is ok for them why not for the Episcopalian Church?

I don't expect journalist will use that word because it is not nice sounding. But is it now according to journalist definitions?