By Daniel Burke
c. 2008 Religion News Service
CANTERBURY, England — The spiritual leader of the global Anglican Communion said the communion will be in “grave peril” if its North American churches ignore temporary bans on gay bishops and same-sex unions.
“If the North American churches don’t accept moratoria” on gay bishops and blessings, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams said on Sunday (Aug. 3), “as a communion we are going to continue to be in grave peril.”
The archbishop also said conservative archbishops from the so-called Global South must stop transgressing traditional geographic boundaries and seeking to adopt like-minded parishes in the U.S. and Canada.
Williams’ comments came at a press conference at the conclusion of the Lambeth Conference, a once-a-decade gathering that brought together more than 650 bishops representing the world’s third-largest Christian body.
Nearly 200 bishops, mostly from Africa, boycotted the conference because they refused to meet alongside bishops from the U.S. or Canada who allow same-sex blessings or approved of the election of an openly gay man, V. Gene Robinson, as bishop of New Hampshire in 2003.
Though there was no recorded vote, a majority of bishops at Lambeth agreed with Williams and said the moratoria, although “difficult to uphold,” are necessary to keep the Anglican Communion from breaking apart.
Yet in a sign of problems ahead, at least two California bishops had already earlier said they will continue to bless same-sex relationships in their dioceses.
The bishops’ closing statement, which is not binding, came in a 40-page “Reflections from the Lambeth Conference.”
The bishops here said same-sex blessings and Robinson’s consecration have led to “many negative results.” Mission partners have been lost, interfaith partnerships damaged, and the church is ridiculed in some quarters as “the gay church,” the bishops said.
Bishops also gave strong approval for a proposed new covenant that would outline Anglican beliefs — and penalties for churches that flaunt them — as well as a “pastoral forum” to deal quickly with crises in the communion.
Episcopal Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori said: “We have not resolved the differences among us, but have seen the need to maintain relationships, even in the face of significant disagreement and discomfort.”
Jefferts Schori generally favors gay rights in her church, and voted to approve Robinson’s consecration. Robinson was not invited to the conference but has been in England advocating for gay rights.
Throughout the three-week conference, bishops have studied the Bible and met in groups modeled on the African concept of villagers convening to hash out serious disputes.
The “reflections” document attempts to capture those conversations, but was also debated by the full body of bishops beneath a big blue circus tent here at the University of Kent.
No binding resolutions were produced, however, after Williams and conference designers determined they would be too polarizing.
But a majority of bishops here clearly want the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church of Canada to not allow gay bishops and same-sex unions. The U.S. church says it effectively banned gay bishops two years ago, and has never authorized public liturgical rites for same-sex unions.
Some blessings of same-sex unions still occur in the U.S., however. “I’m not very happy about that,” Williams said Sunday.
As head of the Church of England, the archbishop of Canterbury is spiritual leader of the Anglican Communion, but lacks the power to bring autonomous national churches into line.
Still, liberals in the Episcopal Church acknowledged that Sunday was a setback.
“We don’t see this as a permanent marginalization,” said Bishop Dean Wolfe of Kansas. “This is a dance that will go on for some time.”
The Rev. Susan Russell, a California gay rights activist here for the conference said, “This means I’m going to have to work harder to get the Episcopal Church to do the right thing.”
Bishop Hector Zalava of Brazil said Sunday that “the communion will split,” if Episcopalians allow gay bishops and blessings. “If the Episcopal Church continues that way I don’t have any hope for the future,” he said.
Some bishops expressed frustration with the conference’s design, comparing it to “Bible school for bishops,” with endless talk but little action.
“I don’t think we’ve done anything to resolve the crisis,” said Bishop Keith Ackerman, a conservative from Quincy, Ill.
Williams said the bishops have taken positive steps.
“We may not have put an end to all our problems,” he said, “but the pieces are on the board.”
Copyright 2008 Religion News Service. All rights reserved. No part of this transmission may be distributed or reproduced without written permission.
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posted August 4, 2008 at 4:52 pm
“The bishops here said same-sex blessings and Robinson’s consecration have led to “many negative results.” Mission partners have been lost, interfaith partnerships damaged, and the church is ridiculed in some quarters as “the gay church,” the bishops said.”
No! Same-sex blessings and Bishop Robinson’s consecration have not led to negative results. Prejudice, discrimination, and bigotry have caused mission partners to be lost, partnerships to be damaged, and ridicule.
How sad to see bishops blaming actions of equality, love, and compassion for “many negative results” rather than taking responsibility for their own (and other in the church) prejudice, discrimination, and bigotry.
Peace!
posted August 4, 2008 at 5:04 pm
It seems after all the talk nothing changed. The U.S. churches will continue to do what they want and the conservatives will continue to express their disapproval.
posted August 4, 2008 at 6:32 pm
Nothing will ever change concerning homosexuality it’s sinful and will always have negative results. I’m not trying to be hurtful but it is not biblically sound it may be man’s law but not God’s. It’s not the first law that has not lined up with God.
posted August 4, 2008 at 6:35 pm
Debates with the Bishops took place in a “Big Blue Circus Tent”, at the University of Kent.
Since the Lambeth Conferance turned out as it did, a Circus, the Circus Tent was very appropriate.
posted August 4, 2008 at 8:40 pm
Yes it sounds like it was set up for lots of talking and hope for a miraculous meeting of minds which never happened. Then many of the bishops, who one would hope would know better, said unity was more important than righteousness. Shame on them!
posted August 5, 2008 at 10:08 am
“Nothing will ever change concerning homosexuality it’s sinful and will always have negative results. I’m not trying to be hurtful but it is not biblically sound it may be man’s law but not God’s. It’s not the first law that has not lined up with God.”
Nothing will ever change concerning homosexuality; some men will continue to love men and some women will continue to love women. One thing that does often change is the text in the bible and people’s interpretations of it. So one day soon, you will see the text change again and people not really care about it but be happy with the changes.
Of course your interpretation will likely remain until you die, but that’s just you, my friend.
No, you are not trying to be hurtful; but ignorance can often cause pain.
Educate yourself about the documents you preach from.
Homosexuality does not always have negative results. Using absolutest words like “always” makes you sound authoritative but anyone who scrutinizes the validity of the statement will be able to see through it and be ticked off that you misrepresented facts.
Evidence before proclamations will get you further in your cause.
“Men do change, and change comes like a little wind that ruffles the curtains at dawn, and it comes like the stealthy perfume of wildflowers hidden in the grass.” ~ John Steinbeck
posted August 5, 2008 at 11:06 am
“‘If the North American churches don’t accept moratoria’ on gay bishops and blessings, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams said on Sunday (Aug. 3), ‘as a communion we are going to continue to be in grave peril.’”
If that which you fear is stronger than that whom you worship, then you have a new and fearsome god. If all it takes to break the union of the Episcopal Church is homosexuals, then they have become new god they fear. Is this really what they intend? Do they truly believe that the power of the homosexuals is so great that it alone can keep them apart? Is it too ironic to say that these lofty and well-robed bishops have no – nerve (not the word I originally chose, but I bet you can guess the word I intended)? Can this group alone close their doors and keep them away?
I prefer a church that has the – nerve – to say everyone is welcome. We may not always agree, but at the very least we can share communion, coffee hour, and maybe even a church supper. Once you share a casarole with another person, split the last piece of coffee cake, or take the bread from the same tray it is a whole lot harder to deny them. Paul had it right (not often i say that) when he talked about the power of sharing a meal and not dividing over a concept.
“If I do not have love I am a clnaging gong” I hope all the clagning gongs in lovely vestments have a great time alone. Y’all welcome to our party – bring a friend and something to share, and be ready to open your heart, your mind, and your arms. Sunshine is not guaranteed, so bring something to splash in too.
posted August 5, 2008 at 12:47 pm
Anyone that has become familiar with my writing and outlook may realize the above post from Aug 5 at 11:06 is mine. I am sure I wrote my “stuff” in too. Oh well, I wouldn’t want anyone else, especially my good buddy ck, to miss this one.
By the way, after I got this done and sent, I realized that as a good dyslexic I could have used in place of the word, “nerve”, the word “galls”. Just remember that we dyslexics tend to reverse and implode letters like g and b.
posted August 5, 2008 at 4:55 pm
Excellent post,jestrfyl. Churches who welcome all are indeed the true meaning of the word….church.
posted August 5, 2008 at 11:36 pm
It’s not that the church is fearful but it is that as the Bible said there is a few real Christians that are willing to say right is right. Jesus warned us about the world and its ways homosexuality is a worldly way and never once lifted as acceptable in the Bible (God’s word by the way) All sinners are welcome in the church that’s what it is for but purposeful continuous sin of will never produce a leader for any Christian church. Love does not necessarily accept everything and true love comes from God no-where does it say homosexuality come from God His design for us does not include it, sin does. No is a Christian word also.
posted August 6, 2008 at 4:12 pm
Yuo seem to know nothing of the “love” you purport to speak about, ck. Your judgement of others precludes love.
posted August 6, 2008 at 6:17 pm
Your judgment of me is shortsighted, love does not mean I will buy into anything.
posted August 6, 2008 at 7:37 pm
How can Homosexuality be worldly, used as worldly is used, it isn’t chosen it is part of a person when they are born. You are still using the uneducated understanding of a natural thing because you chose to see sin in it as the many clergy do. Science says otherwise. The same science that saves lives with new discoveries everyday of the naysayers. They use it for their betterment and longer lives and refuse to accept what Science states about GLBT. This is ignorent, and makes no sense.
Quote from Ck: Jesus warned us of the worldly ways, homosexuality is a worldly way.
posted August 7, 2008 at 11:32 am
ck,
You are not being judged so much as observed. We see, read and hear what you are saying – and it is antithetical to Christ’s message, ergo it is not love.
posted August 7, 2008 at 3:12 pm
Who is this we?