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Episcopalian Church Rejects Ban On Gay Bishops, Then Partially Reverses Decision

By John Jalsevac

COLUMBUS, Ohio, June 21, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) - On the same day that the U.S. Presbyterian church voted to allow homosexual clergy, the national convention of the U.S. Episcopalian church rejected a ban on consecrating homosexual bishops. Only twenty-four hours later, however, the church convention partially reversed its decision. The last minute reversal was made in the hope that the Episcopalian Church, the U.S. faction of Anglicanism with official ties to Canterbury, could avoid a split with the worldwide Anglican Church.

The original ban was proposed by Anglican leaders with the support of the Archbishop of Canterbury and called for a total moratorium on the consecration of gay bishops. The non-binding resolution passed today does not follow the wording of the document from Canterbury, but urges those in authority, "to exercise restraint by not consenting to the consecration of any candidate [for bishop] whose manner of life presents a challenge to the wider church and will lead to further strains on communion."

Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold warned the convention just hours before it came to a close that "unless there is a clear perception on the part of our Anglican brothers and sisters that they have been taken seriously ... there will be no conversion and the bonds of affection which undergird communion will be further strained," reports Reuters.

Last week the Archbishop of Canturbury, Rowan Williams, wrote to the U.S. general convention, saying "We cannot survive as a communion of churches without some common convictions about what it is to live and to make decisions as the Body of Christ." 

The U.S. Episopalian Church caused consternation and outrage amongst the worldwide Anglican Church when it consecrated the Anglican Church's first openly gay bishop three years ago. Many called for the expulsion of the U.S. Episcopalian Church from the Anglican church. 

Last year the Nigerian Anglican Church voluntarily broke with Canterbury over the issue of homosexual marriage. At the time Nigerian Archbishop Peter J. Akinola called the blessing of same-sex unions and ordination of gay clergy by Anglicans in the UK and North America a “Satanic attack” on the congregation.

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