Division among Anglicans over homosexuality is pulling churchgoers away from the critical task of world mission, say CMS world leaders.
In Sydney last month for a meeting of CMS and partner agencies, representatives from CMS-USA say division within the US Episcopal Church is distracting from the main game and draining resources.
"The current crisis takes energy away from world mission," said Musyoki Muindi, Director of Development and Administration for CMS-USA.
"There's a lot of energy being pulled into the political situation and it's making it difficult for people to think about mission.
"Our interest is how mission is [practised] within the church and how CMS can engage. The environment is changing around us and when things settle down we'll pick things up from there."
The US church's refusal to back down from ordaining practicing homosexuals has splintered the Anglican Communion.
CMS-USA was not represented at the recent Episcopal Church General Convention, where a decision to elect ultra-liberal Katharine Jefferts Schori, as the country's head Anglican bishop sent shockwaves around the worldwide church.
Bob Werner, a CMS-USA board member, said any major crisis drains resources and the challenge is for CMS to not "totally ignore' the situation but to "be careful it doesn't distract us'.
Meanwhile African Anglicans are continuing to voice their discontent with the Western church.
Bishop Ken Okeke, President of the Church of Nigeria Missionary Society, also in Sydney for the conference, said the West's acceptance of homosexual lifestyles exposes a lack of action in calling people back to the authority of the Bible.
"They brought us the gospel, we owe everything to the West and we see it weakening," Bishop Okeke said. "They've lost their voice in their communities. We wonder why there's a huge silence."
Bishop Okeke said the network of world CMS leaders and partner agencies, which first met in 1999, can be a catalyst to regain the Anglican Church's voice.
Twenty-three representatives travelled from Kenya, Nigeria, the United States, Britain, Ireland, India, New Zealand and within Australia for the convention.
