Cape Town Archbishop Ndungane Njongonkulu has challenged a statement by a group of conservative evangelical archbishops from Africa, Asia and Australia who are warning of a schism in the church over homosexuality if a US church tries to confirm a gay bishop.
Njongonkulu challenged the conservative archbishops ‘ statement, saying he could not in conscience and faith support it.
After a meeting in Washington of 60 senior Anglicans, the five archbishops said they would regard the US Episcopal Church as having left the Anglican communion if its convention in Minneapolis next week backs the appointment of Canon Gene Robinson as bishop of New Hampshire.
In their statement, the conservative evangelical archbishops said: ”Should the convention decide to confirm the election of Canon Gene Robinson as bishop or approve the blessing of same-sex unions or both, then we will convene within three months to confirm our view that Ecusa [Episcopal church, USA] has thereby placed itself outside the boundaries of the Anglican communion and that appropriate action will follow.”
Said Njongonkulu in opposition to the statement: ”I believe it is wrong and contrary to our Anglican tradition and understanding of canon law to presume to interfere in the affairs of another province,” he said. ”We need to recognise that there are those who love our Lord on both sides of this difficult debate.”
The five are: Archbishop Peter Akinola of Nigeria, head of the largest church in the communion, Bernard Malingo of Central Africa, Emmanuel Kolini of Rwanda, Yong Ping Chung of South-East Asia and Peter Jensen of Sydney. A similar statement was issued last weekend by 24 of the 300 bishops of the US Episcopal church, though some of those are retired.
The tactic is similar to one employed by the same bishops in England last month which helped to persuade Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, to force the resignation of Canon Jeffrey John, a celibate gay priest, as suffragan bishop of Reading. Dr Williams, who is on a tour of west Africa, leads the 70-million-strong worldwide Anglican communion.
In the US, the tactic looks likely to backfire as Canon Robinson was elected bishop by his own parishioners in May, rather than being appointed like Canon John, and he said last week he would not back down. His election still has to be confirmed by the triennial convention but he has said the people of New Hampshire would be ”outraged” if they could not have their choice of bishop.
Delegates to the convention are being lobbied by both sides, with evangelicals threatening a walkout if the appointment goes through. Supporters of Canon Robinson will wear badges saying: ”Ask me about Gene” to testify to his worthiness to be a bishop.
Perhaps more controversially, the convention is also due to debate whether the church should ordain blessings for same-sex couples, a move narrowly defeated three years ago. A service was recently approved by a diocese in Canada in defiance of a warning against the move by Anglican primates, including Dr Williams. -Guardian Unlimited Â