America's Anglican revolution will now enter it final phase, with Africa's bishops saying the Episcopalian General Convention missed its chance to place a moratorium on electing gay bishops and blessing same-sex unions.
Archbishop Peter Akinola, in a letter signed on behalf of the Primates of the Council of Anglican Provinces of Africa (CAPA), said the Americans had been warned not to show a commitment to "people in same gender sexual relationships in civic life, church life and leadership'.
"We have noted the many affirmations of this throughout the Convention. As you know, our Churches cannot reconcile this with the teaching on marriage set out in the Holy Scriptures and repeatedly affirmed throughout the Anglican Communion.
“All four Instruments of Unity in the Anglican Communion advised you against taking and continuing these commitments and actions prior to your General Convention in 2003," the letter said.
The letter may surprise some Americans, with their General Convention clearly voting in favour of gay bishops but then at the last minute partially reversing its decision.
Twists and turns
Events at the Episcopal General Convention in Colombus, Ohio, unfolded in a unpredictable fashion.
The Episcopal Church's initial response to the 2004 Windsor Commission, came as a vote was sought on a mandatory moratorium, with a motion using the exact words of the Windsor Report.
But the motion was declared "out of order" because it would have required a constitutional change to allow the convention to bind its dioceses.
Eventually a second motion came up which "obliged to urge' the Church "to refrain from the nomination, election, consent to, and consecration of bishops whose manner of life presents a challenge to the wider church and will lead to further strains on communion".
This motion was defeated 71-38 among lay delegations and 67-44 among the clergy in the House of Deputies.
“What we just had was the Boston Tea Party,” Robert Duncan, the evangelical bishop of Pittsburgh responded to the Washington Post.
“We have clarity. It was extraordinary.”
Outgoing Episcopal Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold was reported to be distraught about the outcome because the Americans were now on a fast track to being ejected from the worldwide Anglican Communion.
Then in a last ditch effort to maintain the Anglican Communion, Bishop Griswold held an emergency session where delegates agreed to "exercise restraint' by "not consenting to the consecration' of candidates "whose manner of life presents a challenge to the wider church'.
However the moption is non-binding and Bishop Chane of Washington DC told Associated Press he would ignore it.
A way forward?
The final wording certainly did not meet what the Global South wanted from the American church "” that it “repent” for having consecrated a homosexual bishop in 2003 and pledge that it won’t elect any more gay bishops.
The mood of the Convention was clear much earlier with delegates electing the ultra-liberal Katharine Jefferts Schori as Presiding Bishop.
When asked by CNN if it was a sin to be homosexual, she replied: “I don't believe so.”
However, how events will now unfold remains unclear.
In his letter Archbishop Akinola looks forward to the meeting of other Global South Primates in September.
"At our meeting in Kampala we have committed ourselves to study very carefully all of your various actions and statements. When we meet with other Primates from the Global South in September, we shall present our concerted pastoral and structural response."
