A statement by the leaders of the worldwide church says that the Anglican Communion will be ‘put in jeopardy’ if a US Diocese proceeded to consecrate as bishop a man living in a homosexual relationship.

By Margaret Rodgers

“It’s quite clear that issues around human sexuality will continue to be difficult and divisive for the Anglican Communion, as they are for many Christians,” Arch-bishop Rowan Williams said after the international Primates’ Meeting last month. “These issues will continue to cause pain and anger, misunderstanding and resentment.”

The Primates met with Archbishop Williams at Lambeth Palace to discuss recent developments. The US Episcopal Church (ECUSA) had affirmed the election as bishop in New Hampshire Diocese of a clergyman living in a homosexual relationship. This followed the decision of New Westminster Diocese to permit blessing of same-sex unions.

After a meeting that one Primate said was brutally honest, the Primates issued a statement declaring that if the consecration of Gene Robinson proceeded, a crucial and critical point in the life of the Anglican Communion would be reached, and its future would be put in jeopardy.

Their statement affirmed the common Anglican understanding of the centrality and authority of Scripture, but, possibly to appease liberal members, they recognised as well “a legitimate diversity of interpretation that arises in the Church.”

The statement was at first greeted by declarations of pleasure from all sides of the debate. Many biblically orthodox saw it as a gain – until it was noted that the document was signed by both the Primate of Canada, Michael Peers, and the Presiding Bishop of ECUSA, yet neither was prepared to take any action in their Province to halt the new developments. Indeed Bishop Griswold insisted he intended to be present at the consecration of Gene Robinson on November 2.

Some 2,800 biblically conservative Episcopal Church members who opposed the affirmation of Gene Robinson by the ECUSA Convention met in Dallas, Texas just before the Primates’ meeting at a conference themed ‘A Place to Stand’. Bishop Robert Duncan from Pittsburgh said their objective was the reform and renewal of the Anglican way in America, and the conference called for a network of confessing dioceses and parishes. They also hoped that the Primates would deliver a ‘godly rebuke’ to the American Church, and a ‘call to repent and return.’

Sydney Synod
Synod debated a motion from Bishop Glenn Davies and Dr Laurie Scandrett, noting the departure from biblical authority in New Westminster and New Hampshire, and re-affirming the commitment of Sydney to the authority of Scripture. Synod ‘dissociated’ the Diocese from the actions that were contrary to biblical teaching. It called on those involved to repent and to reverse their decisions.

Bishop Davies said the Scripture teaches clearly against homosexual activity. “The authority of Scripture is at the heart of this debate – how we understand its teaching and whether we are prepared to sit under its teaching.”

However, Dr Michael Horsburgh ‘opposed the motion in its entirety’, saying the debate was not about the authority of Scripture. “It is fundamentally about the meaning and interpretation of Scripture, not its authority.” Opposition to the motion came also from the Rev John McIntyre, rector of South Sydney.

Greg Spicer from Enmore spoke movingly about gays who were church members and said they were wounded by opinions such as those expressed in Synod debate.

Supporting the motion, Claire Smith said that, “loving people sometimes requires us to do difficult things – and this is one of those cases.”

Synod overwhelmingly supported the motion.

The Rev Bruce Ballantine-Jones and Mr Robert Tong brought forward a second motion sending Christian greetings from Sydney to biblically orthodox clergy and laity in the Diocese of New Westminster and in ECUSA.