Former Archbishop of Canterbury approves proposal to bar bishops, remove parishes in support of homosexual bishop

Colorado Springs, Colo., Apr 25, 2004 / 22:00 pm

A conservative Anglican committee submitted a proposal that bars bishops, who supported the consecration of a homosexual bishop in New Hampshire last November, from attending and voting at high-level meetings called by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

The proposal, drafted at a three-day summit in Colorado Springs last week, also developed a plan for individual parishes in support of the homosexual bishop. It would remove these parishes from the Episcopal Church and make them independent.

The proposals got the green light from former Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey, who attended the summit, organized by the Anglican Communion Institute, from April 20 to 22.

Carey, who served as the spiritual leader of the world’s 77 million Anglicans before he retired in 2002, said the proposals were a good guideline with the potential of keeping the Anglican Communion together, reported the Associated Press.

Carey said the consecration of openly homosexual V. Gene Robinson as bishop for the Episcopal Church last November has fractured the Anglican Communion. He said the Anglican Church is “in danger” because of this, reported the AP.

He reportedly told the participants gathered at the summit that although the Episcopal Church should be inclusive, the American branch of the Anglican Church went too far by consecrating Robinson, said the AP.

The proposals were submitted to the Lambeth Commission, set up by the current Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, to discuss the implications of the controversial consecration.