Saturday 6th May 2006 could prove decisive in the future of the worldwide Anglican Communion, as the Episcopal Diocese of California elects its new bishop. The potential to open a unprecedented global rift in the Communion is immense as three of the seven candidates are openly gay.
In 2003 the Episcopal Church of the USA elected the first openly homosexual bishop in the Anglican Communion’s 450 year history, Gene Robinson in New Hampshire. That event created shock waves across the worldwide Communion, which are still very much felt today, as a heated debate on the matter continues.Since that time, the issue has been such a delicate topic that no further gay or lesbian clerics have been elected bishop.
A spokeswoman for the American Anglican Council, Cynthia Brust reported, “This (the Diocese of California elections) is being watched internationally. We’re just watching and waiting.”
In 1979 the Episcopal Church’s General Convention attempted to resolve the topic when it resolved that the ordination of homosexuals was inappropriate.
The 2003 consecration of Bishop Gene Robinson led to a number of Episcopal churches leaving the core ECUSA, and instead aligning themselves with the Anglican Churches in Africa, who have been sternly against the consecration of gays.
The Director of Communications for the Episcopal Church, Canon Robert Williams said, “There is a diversity of opinion within the Episcopal Church about the understanding of human sexuality. The church, locally and internationally, is committed to a process of understanding and ongoing discovery.”
