Washington D.C., Aug 31, 2007 / 07:55 am
As of yesterday, the Episcopal Church had only one month left to respond to the requests of the Anglican primates, issued last February, to reverse the denomination's course regarding the blessing of same-sex unions and the ordination of openly gay bishops.
"With the clock rapidly running out on the Episcopal Church, the pressure is on for the denomination to place the good of the worldwide Anglican Communion above its own interests,” said Ralph Webb of Anglican Action. “Unfortunately, the denomination still gives little hope that it will rise to meet the needs of not only the Communion to which it belongs, but the entire body of Christ.”
Earlier this week, Rev. Tracey Lind, an open and partnered lesbian, was nominated for bishop of Chicago. Webb points out that all five candidates for bishop of Chicago support the Episcopal Church's movement toward same-sex blessings and gay bishops.
Webb notes that Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori has said this movement is part of the denomination's mission.
“Yet that goal and many other examples of jettisoning biblical, traditional Anglican faith have led thousands of orthodox Anglicans to leave the Episcopal Church,” says Webb.
This movement puts the Episcopal Church outside of the mainstream and outside the larger body of Christ, says Webb.