Anglican archbishop fights to save Anglican Communion from schism

Feb 21, 2005 / 22:00 pm

Anglican primates gathered yesterday to grapple with the issues of homosexuality and same-sex marriage, which have divided the church, and save the Anglican Communion from a schism, reported Christian Today.

A huge rift developed between conservatives and liberals after the US Episcopal Church decided in 2003 to appoint an openly homosexual bishop to the New Hampshire diocese, in defiance of the procedures of the Anglican Church.

Church leaders are warning that this current crisis is the most serious to the Communion in modern times and that a resolution is next to impossible.

At odds are the conservative evangelicals and their understanding of the authority of Biblical truth and tradition and the liberal view that suggests the church has failed to minister sensitively to the small homosexual community.

Last week, at the Church of England’s General Synod in London, the Church gave its full backing to the Windsor Report’s recommendations that the US Episcopal Church express its regret for consecrating of Gene Robinson, and provide a theological explanation.

However, the US Episcopal Church has merely said that it regrets the effect its actions have had.

Many commentators are suggesting that a suspension of the North American Church may be the only way to avoid a full-scale schism. Others have suggested a "cooling-off" period before any final decision is made.

The Anglican Communion is the third-largest denomination worldwide with 78 million members in 164 countries.