A high-ranking Anglican panel acknowledged Wednesday the effort of Episcopal bishops to keep the worldwide Anglican family together and said they have complied with a directive by Anglican leaders on gay bishops and same-sex unions.
"We believe that The Episcopal Church has clarified all outstanding questions," stated the advisory report from the lay-clergy Joint Standing Committee. The report was written for the Anglican Communion's spiritual leader, Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams, who has so far succeeded in preventing a schism in the 77-million-member global church body.Divisions in the Anglican Communion emerged when the US Episcopal Church - the US branch of Anglicanism - consecrated the openly gay bishop V Gene Robinson of New Hampshire in 2003.
Anglican leaders set a September 30 deadline for Episcopal bishops to make an unequivocal pledge not to consecrate another openly gay bishop or authorise the blessing of same-sex unions.
With only a few days left before the deadline, the Episcopal House of Bishops released its response last week during a meeting in New Orleans, saying bishops would "exercise restraint" in approving partnered gays as bishops and authorising public rites of the blessing of same-sex unions.
Conservatives condemned the response, saying the Episcopal bishops again dodged the requests made by Anglican leaders and had chosen not to change course but rather go their own way based on their liberal-leaning interpretation of Scripture and acceptance of homosexuality.
However, the Joint Standing Committee said the Episcopal Church has "given the necessary assurances sought of them", according to their report.
"The Joint Standing Committee report has recognized the hard work of the House of Bishops," commented Episcopal Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori in a statement, "and that our responses reflect our repeatedly expressed desire to remain in full communion with the rest of the Anglican Communion."
Jefferts Schori confirmed last Sunday the Episcopal Church would not retreat from their position on the "full inclusion" of gays and lesbians and their 2003 controversial action, but are willing to "pause" on their pro-gay agenda. The worldwide communion holds that homosexual practice is incompatible with Scripture although it still calls its people to minister pastorally to all, including homosexuals.
