Anglican Church heads for schism
The Anglican Church is facing the possibility of a major split after a row over the appointment of gay bishops and blessings for same sex unions.
After a four-day meeting in Northern Ireland, Anglican leaders have asked North American and Canadian churches to withdraw from the church’s governing body, the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC), until 2008.
Ostensibly, the decision is to allow more time for the dispute to be resolved, with further consultation due at the ten-yearly Lambeth conference in three years’ time.
But most commentators view this as a victory for conservative sections of the church.
The row began in 2003, when the openly gay Gene Robinson was appointed to the bishopric of New Hampshire and the Canadian church decided to bless same-sex unions.
Conservative elements of the church – particularly in the developing world – were outraged, claiming that the Bible defines marriage as being between a man and a woman. But, the progressive argue that the church needs to move with the times and accept same-sex unions.
In a statement, the church said: “We as a body continue to address the situations which have arisen in North America with the utmost seriousness. Whilst there remains a very real question about whether the North American churches are willing to accept the same teaching on matters of sexual morality as is generally accepted elsewhere in the Communion, the underlying reality of our communion in God the Holy Trinity is obscured, and the effectiveness of our common mission severely hindered.
“We request that the Episcopal Church (USA) and the Anglican Church of Canada voluntarily withdraw their members from the ACC for the period leading up to the next Lambeth Conference.”
In the meantime, it asks church primates to press for a moratorium on any blessings for same-sex couples and on the consecration of any bishops “living in a sexual relationship outside Christian marriage.”
However, the communique does make a nod towards the progressives’ concerns. It states that homosexual Christians are not to be discriminated against and: “We assure homosexual people that they are children of God, loved and valued by him, and deserving of the best we can give of pastoral care and friendship.”
