If Akinola’s demands are met then the Church of England would be suspended, and therefore removed from the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC), which is the governing body of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The Church of England would therefore lose its say in the Church’s worldwide policies.
At a meeting earlier this year, the American and Canadian sections of the Anglican Communion were suspended; America for going against the teachings of the Church in ordaining an openly homosexual man as Bishop of New Hampshire; Canada for allowing same-sex blessings.
The move however, would create a rather abnormal position for the Queen and the Archbishop of Canterbury who would be leading the Anglican Communion, yet technically be outside its decision-making body.
A number of top Anglican archbishops across the world have told how they have been outraged that the Church of England had voted for the Civil Partnerships Act in a House of Lords debate, with eight bishops voting in favour of the new law and just two against it.
Worldwide Church leaders have also been shocked at the huge amount of same-sex blessings that now go on in parishes across England. It is reported by Alex Delmar-Morgan for the Sunday Times that currently more than 300 ceremonies take place every year on average now in England. Now that the Civil Partnerships Act will come into force later this year, The LGCM estimates that more than 1,500 clergy will register their civil partnership in the next five years.
Backing up Akinola’s criticism of Williams, Bernard Malango, the Archbishop of Central Africa has decided to write an official letter to Williams. Malango said, “If Rowan has approved of this, it is very unfortunate. It makes me sick. They have to explain what they mean by being married and having no sex. This is the final nail in the coffin of the entire Anglican Communion.”
In addition, Drexel Gomez, Archbishop of the West Indies believes that these latest developments could be the final dispute to cause a shattering split in the entire worldwide communion. He said, “I don't see how civil partnerships will work. I will have a difficult time explaining this; my people will take it in a negative way. This is an added threat at this moment of tension within the communion. Two-thirds of the communion will not be able to accept it.”
The Archbishop of Nigeria will now bring the matter to the meeting of the Anglican primates in September between the Church’s leaders in Africa, South East Asia and South America. If enough support is expressed for his proposals to suspend the Church of England, then the matter will proceed to the next meeting of the primates.
