Episcopal Bishops Offer Response to 'Mend Tear' in Anglican Communion

Correction appended

The Episcopal Church's House of Bishops has pledged not to authorise the blessing of same-sex unions until a broader consensus emerges in the worldwide Anglican Communion, or until the primary governing and legislative Episcopal body takes further action.

In their response Tuesday "to questions and concern raised by our Anglican Communion partners", Episcopal bishops also said they agreed that a resolution on the election of bishops calls upon church officials "to exercise restraint by not consenting to the consecration of any candidate to the episcopate whose manner of life presents a challenge to the wider church and will lead to further strains on communion".

"The House acknowledges that non-celibate gay and lesbian persons are included among those to whom B033 (the resolution) pertains," they added.

While some interpreted the statements to mean that the Episcopal Church - the US arm of Anglicanism - would put a stop to the ordination of homosexual clergy, conservative Christians were quick to point out that the bishops simply said that they agree that they have been called upon not to consecrate non-celibate homosexuals who would stir up more controversy. A pledge was only made regarding the blessing of same-sex unions.

"They're offering business as usual," commented Bishop Martyn Minns of the Convocation of Anglicans in North America, a prominent conservative group supported by the Archbishop of Nigeria, according to the New York Times. "The communion asked them to make a change, to embrace the teaching of the communion about homosexuality, and there's no change at all."

Respected theologian Dr R Albert Mohler, the president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, further noted that "judging by the initial media response, the statement released Tuesday night falls short of 'clear and unambiguous'," as the Episcopal bishops said they hoped it would be.

A number of media outlets, such as the BBC, had reported that the US church body had "agreed to halt the ordination of gay clergy to prevent a split in the Anglican Church".

Tuesday's announcement came after Episcopal bishops found "common ground to stand on" in a six-day meeting in New Orleans, according to the presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, Katharine Jefferts Schori. "High ground," she added.

"Not everyone is 100 per cent happy with every word in this document," Jefferts Schori noted, "but we believe we have found a place that all of us can stand together - at the foot of the cross."

The threat of a worldwide split has been hanging over the 77 million member Anglican Communion since the ordination of V Gene Robinson as the first openly gay bishop in the Episcopal Church in 2003.

Adherents of the Christian faith have historically taught that homosexuality is a sin according to Scripture, and conservative Christians hold onto the belief that homosexuals should not be allowed to hold positions of leadership within the Church. They also feel that the Church should not bless homosexual relationships, as this would be tantamount to blessing a sinful act.

Liberal believers, meanwhile, argue that biblical teachings on inclusiveness should take precedence and nullify any such teachings against homosexuality.

Prior to the September 20-25 meeting of bishops, Episcopal church leaders had expressed several times that they were not going to back down from their controversial actions and the church body's stance supporting the "full inclusion" of gays and lesbians, causing many to believe that the liberal church body would eventually break from its global family.

On Tuesday, however, the Episcopal bishops expressed their "conviction that the Episcopal Church needs the Anglican Communion" and, as they were reportedly told by their guests, "the Anglican Communion needs the Episcopal Church".

While they also called for "unequivocal and active commitment to the civil rights, safety, and dignity of gay and lesbian persons" in their statement, the bishops offered their responses "with the hope of 'mending the tear in the fabric' of our common life in Christ".

"We believe they provide clarity and point toward next steps in an ongoing process of dialogue," they said.

Meanwhile, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the "Common Cause Partners", consisting of US Anglicans discontent with the Episcopal Church and those who have already split, opened a four-day meeting with some 50 bishops and some observers.

The meeting was arranged as many predicted that the Episcopal Church would "walk apart" from the global Anglican Communion by the conclusion of the recent gathering of the Episcopal House of Bishops in New Orleans.


Correction: Wednesday, September 26, 2007:

An article on Wednesday, September 26, 2007, about a statement issued by the Episcopal House of Bishops incorrectly reported that the Episcopal Church had agreed to halt the ordination of gay clergy in an effort to prevent a schism in the worldwide Anglican Communion. While Episcopal bishops agreed that there should not be consent given to the consecration of non-celibate homosexuals who would "challenge to the wider church and will lead to further strains on communion", they did not state any intentions to bar such consecrations.