Anglican delegates from the United States and Canada were going before a divided church, gathering on Tuesday to explain their stance on homosexuality — an issue that threatens to split the 77-million-strong global communion.
Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams has acknowledged that the US church’s appointment of an openly gay bishop and the Canadian wing’s support for the blessing of same-sex unions caused ”outrage and hurt” among many Anglicans.
Emotions were high at the Anglican Consultative Council meeting in Nottingham, as pro-gay and traditionalist wings of the church appealed for understanding.
”I think it’s going to be a difficult afternoon,” said Tony Fitchett, a lay council member from New Zealand. ”What I hope for is an understanding that the grace of God allows us to live together in fellowship, accepting that we may disagree strongly on certain things.”
Meeting in Northern Ireland in February, leaders of the 38 national Anglican churches chastised the US Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church of Canada, asking them not to attend this week’s meeting of the Consultative Council, an international body of bishops, priests and lay people that meets every three years.
But Anglican leaders also asked the North American churches to send representatives to this English Midlands city to explain their views on homosexuality, which official church policy calls ”incompatible with Scripture.”
Addressing the Nottingham gathering on Monday, Williams acknowledged how deeply the issue had split Anglicans.
”We can’t ignore the seriousness of what divides us,” he said.
”But if there is no easy solution, and there is not, we can at least think about this simple suggestion. If it is difficult for us to stand together at the Lord’s Table as we might wish, can we continue to be friends?”
That may prove difficult. The issue of homosexuality has opened a rift between Anglican liberals — many of them in North America — and conservatives, who are strongest in Africa and Asia. Many fear it is unbridgeable.
The bishops’ February communique said Anglican teaching on sexuality had ”been seriously undermined by the recent developments in North America.” A 1998 resolution adopted by all Anglican bishops opposed gay ordinations and same-sex blessings.
The US and Canadian churches have been asked to explain the theological reasoning behind the consecration of V Gene Robinson as Bishop of New Hampshire, and the decision by the western Canadian diocese of New Westminster to authorise the blessing of same-sex unions.
”The very fact the Canadians and Americans are being put into a defensive position is inexplicable,” said Richard Kirker of the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement.
But Chris Sugden, leader of Anglican Mainstream — which says it represents the ”orthodox” Anglican view — accused the leadership of the Episcopal Church of ignoring the views of many American Anglicans who oppose gay clergy.
”We’re up against a winner-takes-all approach that does not brook any dissent and will slowly but surely stifle it,” he said.
The six-member US presentation team includes one bishop who voted against Robinson’s ordination, Charles Jenkins, and another who backed him after expressing doubts, Neil Alexander.
In a letter issued to US bishops on Friday, Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold — head of the Episcopal Church — said the delegation ”indicates that those of differing points of view can live with mutual affection and make common cause in the service of Christ’s mission.”
But the conservative American Anglican Council said the composition of the group ”represents a revisionist theology and radical wing of the Episcopal Church.” ‒Sapa-AP