Church of the Word
ABP WILLIAMS STRESSES OPPOSITION

New row brewing as USA considers another gay bishop
Number: 5808 Date: Feb 22, 2006

THE CONTROVERSY over homosexuality that has engulfed the Anglican Communion looks set to be reignited after a diocese in the American Church shortlisted an openly gay man and lesbian woman to be its next bishop. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, expressed deep unease over the announcement that the Diocese of California is preparing to breach the recommendations of the Windsor Report. This called for a moratorium on the appointment of gay bishops in the Anglican Communion.

The Very Rev Robert Taylor, Dean of Seattle, and the Rev Bonnie Perry, Rector of All Saints’ Church in Chicago, are on the list of nominees for the election in May. The gay church pressure group, Integrity, welcomed the inclusion of “a gay man” and “a lesbian woman”. “Whether or not Robert or Bonnie is elected by the Diocese of California, it is inevitable that another gay or lesbian person will eventually be elected, confirmed, and consecrated” to the episcopate in America, Integrity stated. “Some of our brothers and sisters in other provinces of the Anglican Communion will be dismayed” by the news and see it as “deliberate disregard for the Windsor Report”, Integrity admitted.

However, they said that these objections should not prevent California from electing a lesbian bishop as “it must be remembered that the Windsor Report is a set of recommendations with no binding authority”, Integrity argued. The winner of the vote must have their election affirmed by the Church’s General Convention in June. Should General Convention affirm Dean Taylor or Dr Perry in their election, conservatives warn the precarious truce within the Anglican Communion may collapse and the Church fracture.

Dr Williams stressed his opposition to the move. “If there is ever to be a change on the discipline and teaching of the Anglican Communion [on homosexuality] it should not be the decision of one Church alone. “The Church must have the highest degree of consensus for such a radical change,” he argued, adding he was very uneasy about the way in which change has gone forward in the American Church over this issue.

This article comes from The Church of England Newspaper Online
http://www.churchnewspaper.com/

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