WASHINGTON - Less than a month remains before US Episcopalians are expected to respond to Anglican leaders worldwide on whether they will remain in step with the Anglican Communion or walk apart.
Their response may determine a possible split in the 77-million member global body that has struggled over the years to avoid schism. Currently, many conservative Anglicans are not hopeful that the Episcopal Church - the US branch of Anglicanism - will "give up its liberal agenda" and remain aligned.
The Episcopal Church faces a September 30 deadline to respond to the requests made earlier this year by Anglican primates, who lead the Communion's 38 provinces, to make an unequivocal pledge not to consecrate another openly gay bishop or authorise official prayers for same-sex couples.
Controversy had heightened when the Episcopal Church consecrated an openly gay bishop in 2003. New Hampshire Bishop V Gene Robinson recently announced plans to enter into acivil partnership with his gay partner next summer.
"With the clock rapidly running out on the Episcopal Church, the pressure is on for the denomination to place the good of the worldwide Anglican Communion above its own interests," stated Ralph Webb, director of Anglican Action for the Institute on Religion and Democracy. "Unfortunately, the denomination still gives little hope that it will rise to meet the needs of not only the Communion to which it belongs, but the entire body of Christ."
Last week, the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago announced that an openly lesbian priest was included among five nominees for bishop. If elected in November, the Rev Tracey Lind, dean of Trinity Cathedral in Cleveland, would become the second bishop in the US branch who lives with a same-sex partner.
"The nomination clearly goes against the spirit of the primates' requests and illustrates the hardness of heart toward the primates demonstrated by many in the Episcopal Church today," said Webb. "[T]hat goal (of the 'full inclusion' of gays and lesbians) and many other examples of jettisoning biblical, traditional Anglican faith have led thousands of orthodox Anglicans to leave the Episcopal Church."
