Memphis Churches Seek Oversight from Kenya

Churches in Memphis and across the southern states of America have moved closer to an alternative conservative communion to the Episcopal Church in the USA by asking the Anglican Church of Kenya to form a diocese and appoint a bishop for them in America.

Delegates from a dozen churches made the request to Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi of Kenya, who was in Memphis over the weekend for meetings and services hosted by St Peter's Anglican Church in East Memphis, reports Memphis newspaper The Commercial Appeal.

Archbishop Nzimbi said he will bring the request up for discussion with worldwide Anglican leaders when they meet in Tanzania in February and he hopes to have made a decision by April.

"We must go slowly and assure that in every step we are giving honour and glory to God," Archbishop Nzimbi told delegates from Tennessee, Mississippi, Florida, North Carolina and Missouri.

St Peter's Church is one of 18 US churches that have broken away from the US Episcopal Church and affiliated with the Anglican Church of Kenya.

Last month, nine churches in the Diocese of Virginia voted to affiliate with the Convocation of Anglicans in North America (CANA), as more churches in the US move closer towards forming their own conservative alternative to the US Episcopal Church. The Virginia church breakaways were supported by the American Anglican Council.

The exodus of conservative dioceses from the US Episcopal Church has gained speed since the consecration of the openly gay Gene Robinson as Bishop of New Hampshire in 2003.

But the decision to split is still made reluctantly.

"Our goal is for the Episcopal Church to sort of see the error of its ways and reunite with all of us," said Rev Steve Carpenter, a former Episcopal priest and now associate pastor of St Peter's.

"But if that doesn't happen, the goal is to establish a single Anglican communion in America. Right now, all of us who have joined the Anglican movement are sort of free-floating. Establishing an Anglican diocese with a bishop here in America would give all of us a new home."

The Anglicans who met in Memphis said they feel more spiritual kinship with their Anglican brothers 8,000 miles away than they do with their Episcopal cousins next door, The Commercial Appeal reported.

"This isn't just about homosexuality or same-sex unions. This is about the authority of Scripture," said Jeff Garrety, a member of All Saints Anglican Church in Jackson.

"The Episcopal Church and its leaders have diminished that authority."

Archbishop Nzimbi cautioned the US delegates not to expect too much too soon. The next step might be to form an American deanery, a less formal collection of parishes, which could grow into a larger diocese headed by a bishop.

Meantime, he asked delegates to be patient.

"We are here to say we stand with you, we encourage you, and we love you," Archbishop Nzimbi said.