Church leaders split on sexual tolerance

Friday, 17 October 2003 12:00 AM

The Episcopal diocese of New Hampshire in the US has posed an almighty conundrum for the Anglican Church after it pledged to press ahead with the appointment of an openly gay Bishop, despite pressure from world church leaders.

In a statement, the diocese said it would consecrate Canon (Gene) Robinson on November 2 as planned.

The statement read: 'Canon (Gene) Robinson was elected based on his nearly three decades of ministry in the diocese, his considerable pastoral skills and his vision for ministry.

'His sexuality was incidental to his call to serve as our bishop.'

Anglican bishops from around the world gathered in London yesterday to conclude a two-day crisis summit on the issue of homosexuality.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, met 37 archbishops and bishops representing the world's 70-million Anglicans at his residence at Lambeth Palace in London.

The meeting concluded with the view that the consecration of Canon Robinson threatened to undermine the unity of the Anglican Church.

A statement issued yesterday read: 'If this consecration proceeds, we recognise that we have reached a crucial and critical point in the life of the Anglican Communion and we have had to conclude that the future of the Communion itself will be put in jeopardy.'

But Dr Williams said he had no authority to ban the appointment of gay clergy.

He said: 'All our meeting could do was to state the situation as it stands, to state where we are.

'My primary duty is to the Church, whose orders I uphold and whose unity I have to serve as best I can.'

The Most Reverend Michael Peers, Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, said: 'We have agreed to disagree, but there are dark days on the horizon, particularly because of the ordination of Canon Robinson in New Hampshire.

'We will now proceed in our own way just as the Church in Nigeria, for example, will proceed in their own way.'

Anglican bishops called for a commission to assess the implications of homosexuality in the church. The commission is expected to take a year to gather its findings.

Individual dioceses have been urged to show restraint before any conclusion is reached.

The US Episcopal Church has 2.3 million members and financial assets estimated at more than GBP1.2bn in annual donations.

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