|TOP|Church Society has called on the heads of the 38 provinces of the Anglican Communion to take the first steps in a process to break formally with the Episcopal Church of the United States.

The call from the group follows the recent General Convention of the US church which rejected a resolution to halt further ordinations of homosexual bishops in favour of a compromise resolution that urged caution in considering the ordination of homosexual candidates.

Church Society also expressed its disappointment over the US Episcopal Church’s failure to indicate regret at the ordination of Gene Robinson as Bishop of New Hampshire in 2003 despite the outrage that the ordination sparked across many parts of the Anglican Communion.

“There is within ECUSA a large minority opposed to the errors of their church and many more who have themselves separated from ECUSA because of error.

|AD|“Therefore it is important to embrace these dioceses, churches and denominations within the Communion,” the society said in a press statement.

Church Society urged fellow provinces to take action now before the Primates are due to meet early next year.

In a letter to the Primates of the Anglican Communion, David Phillips, General Secretary of the Council of Church Society said: “It should be clear to all that ECUSA and others have stepped well beyond the boundaries of orthodox, apostolic Christianity.

“We believe that postponing action any longer can only damage the Communion and the witness of Anglican churches worldwide.”

Phillips also urged the Primates in his letter to take steps to formally break fellowship with the US Episcopal Church as well as to develop a mechanism that would establish fellowship with those in the US who remain opposed to same sex relationships.