Schism in the Anglican Communion over homosexuality

Events during 2007-September to December

Sponsored link.

2007-SEP-25: Bishops move to meet primates' request:

At the conclusion of their meeting in New Orleans, bishops of the Episcopal Church, USA pledged to "exercise restraint" in approving additional gay bishops, and pledged to not approve an official prayer for blessing same-sex relationships. Presumably, the clergy will be able to continue blessing the house, car, yacht, etc. of same-sex couples; they are only forbidden to recognize same-sex relationships, even if the couple is already married. ₁

2007-SEP-25: Conservative Episcopal bishops meet to organize a formal schism:

Fifty conservative bishops of the Episcopal Church, USA started a four-day meeting in Pittsburgh, PA to discuss splitting the American church into two separate denominations: one conservative and the other liberal.

Two observers from the Anglican Network in Canada, Rev. Canon Charlie Masters and retired eastern Newfoundland bishop Donald Harvey attended as observers. The Network is attempting to become an alternative to the Anglican church of Canada and become a denomination within the Anglican Communion .

Bob Duncan, bishop of Pittsburgh, said: "Anglicanism seems to be failing in the west. Would each one of us become a missionary bishop?" He said that the Episcopal Church, USA is becoming increasing inhospitable for religious conservatives. He said: "Many Anglicans have become disheartened." Three dioceses plan to hold votes in the next few months on whether to split from the main denomination. He predicted that as many as five dioceses in the U.S. would initially follow this path, including his own diocese.

The diocese of Pittsburgh has actively promoted its independence from the national body:

In 2003, his diocese voted to ask the primates of the Anglican Communion: "... to recognize conservatives who uphold traditional biblical sexual morality as the true Anglican church in the United States; ... [They decided] ... that the Pittsburgh diocese will no longer send money to the national church; and [that they would] give permission for parishes that wish to leave the diocese or denomination to keep their property." 2

In 2004, the diocese approved a measure that allows them to reject any decisions by the denomination that the diocese feels are "contrary to the historic faith and order of the Anglican Communion." 3

Bishop Duncan said that the recent decision by the American bishops in New Orleans to "exercise restraint" in approving another gay bishop and to not approve an official prayer for blessing same-sex couples indicated that the New Orleans meeting had "failed." ₁

References used:

The following information sources were used to prepare and update the above essay. The hyperlinks are not necessarily still active today.

1. Stuart Laidlaw, "Anglican split gains ground," Toronto Star, 2007-SEP-26, Page AA4.
2. Ann Rodgers-Melnick, "Pittsburgh Episcopal Diocese asks leaders to recognize conservative stance. Votes follow summer decision on gay bishop." Post-Gazette, Pittsburgh, PA, 2003-SEP-28, at: http://www.post-gazette.com/
3. "The Episcopal diocese of Pittsburgh ..." Christian Century, 2004-DEC-28, at: http://findarticles.com/

Copyright © 2006 & 2009 by Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance
Latest update: 2009-AUG-16
Author: B.A. Robinson

Sponsored link

Web ReligiousTolerance.org