Anglican leader asserts authority over gay clergy row

Dec 14, 2007

LONDON (AFP) — The Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams sought to assert his authority in the long-running row over homosexuality Friday, warning that Anglicanism would not be dictated to by one church.

In his pre-Christmas letter to heads of member churches around the world, Williams recognised that the US Episcopal Church's ordination of gay bishops and blessing of same-sex unions threatened to split the Church.

But he left no doubt that he would not allow a schism and made clear that those who went against the "mind" of the 77-million-strong Anglican communion could be excluded, because of the damage being caused to the Church.

There were clear boundaries in their faith, based on the Bible, Anglicanism's highest-ranking cleric said in the letter, which was made public by his office.

"Radical change in the way we read cannot be determined by one group or tradition alone," he added.

Williams said he wanted talks with Episcopalian leaders and their opponents to try to achieve "any better level of mutual understanding".

A separate meeting of leading clergy would also meet to discuss the "unanswered questions" from a New Orleans conference in September, at which the Episcopalians agreed to stop ordaining gay bishops and same-sex blessings.

"I suggest that it (the talks) will also have to consider whether in the present circumstances it is possible for provinces or individual bishops at odds with the expressed mind of the Communion to participate fully in representative Communion agencies, including ecumenical bodies," he said.

He added: "At the moment, the question of 'who speaks for the Communion?' is surrounded by much unclarity and urgently needs resolution."

Anglicanism has been divided since Gene Robinson, an openly gay priest, was elected as bishop of New Hampshire four years ago, outraging traditionalists, particularly in Africa.

Tensions were further heightened last year when the Episcopal Church elected Jefferts Schori, a woman, as its leader.

Worldwide Anglican leaders who met in Tanzania in February agreed that the Episcopal Church must unequivocally bar official blessings of same-sex unions and the consecration of openly gay bishops.

Conservative US clergy who disagree with the Episcopal Church approach to gays have recently been consecrated to African bishoprics to allow them to minister to traditionalists in the US church.

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