Fears Of Anglican Split Persist
By Candia Dames
Nassau, Bahamas
19 April 2006
Three years after delegates of the last Episcopal General
Convention in the United States approved the election of V. Gene Robinson, a
homosexual, as bishop of New Hampshire, local Archbishop Drexel Gomez still
fears a split in the Anglican Communion.
His comments came as the Episcopal Church, the American arm
of the Anglican denomination, released a recent report, which will form the
basis of the formal response to the 2004 Windsor Report, which contains
findings of the Lambeth Commission.
That Commission studied issues like ordination of gay clergy
and the blessing of same-sex unions.
"What the rest of the Communion is saying to the
Episcopal Church is ‘we don’t approve of [the ordination of gay clergy.] We
don’t believe this is in keeping with the gospel and we are asking you to give
a commitment not to do this…if you wish to live in communion with the rest of
us," explained Archbishop Gomez, who was a member of the Lambeth
Commission.
The Commission was formed in response to the decision by the
Episcopal Church to ordain Bishop Robinson, and the decision by the Diocese of
New Westminster in the Anglican Church of Canada to authorize the blessing of
same-sex unions.
The Windsor Report asks for a stop to same-sex blessings.
Following the release of the report, a special commission on
the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion was constituted in 2005 by the
Presiding Bishop and the President of the House of Deputies to assist the 75th
General Convention in considering the report.
The commission is recommending that the General Convention
express regret for the pain caused by its actions at the 74th General
Convention.
It also urges "very considerable caution be exercised
in the nomination, election, consent to, and the consecration of bishops whose
manner of life presents a challenge to the wider church and will lead to
further strains on communion."
But the commission did not agree to the moratorium on the
ordination of gay clergy asked for by the Windsor Report.
While clarifying that the General Convention has not
authorized public rites of blessing for same-sex unions, the commission said,
"we concur with the Windsor Report and suggest that the Episcopal Church
not proceed to authorize such rites at this time."
At the same time, the commission acknowledged that it is
necessary to maintain "a breadth of private response to the situations of
individual pastoral care" for gay and lesbian people.
Asked whether he still feared a split in the Anglican
Communion, Archbishop Gomez said, "It’s still a possibility".
He added, however, "From the recent reports I have
received, I think members of the Episcopal Church will make a genuine effort to
try to address the concerns. I personally believe they will not go as far as I
would like them to go."
Archbishop Gomez said that some Anglicans are doubtful that
the issues could ever be resolved satisfactorily for all concerned.
"The rest of the Communion is waiting anxiously to see
how the [Episcopalians] will [formally] respond," he said.
The General Convention will meet from June 13 to 21 in
Columbus, Ohio. At that time, a legislative committee will review the new
report.
Archbishop Gomez said the ordination of gay clergy and the
blessing of same-sex blessings are contrary to what most Anglicans do and
believe.
"So if we are to go forward together the
[Episcopalians] have to, as it were, backtrack," he said.
"There will be the question of how the Communion will receive
what they offer."