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US Church drops gay bishops ban US Church drops gay bishops ban
(about 3 hours later)
Bishops of the Anglican Church in the United States have voted to overturn a three-year moratorium on the election of gay bishops.Bishops of the Anglican Church in the United States have voted to overturn a three-year moratorium on the election of gay bishops.
The decision seems likely to lead to the Episcopal Church's eventual exit from the worldwide Anglican Communion.The decision seems likely to lead to the Episcopal Church's eventual exit from the worldwide Anglican Communion.
The Communion has been fighting to avoid disintegration since the Episcopal Church ordained the openly gay bishop Gene Robinson in 2003. The Communion has been fighting to avoid disintegration since the Episcopal Church consecrated the openly gay bishop Gene Robinson in 2003.
The decision is expected to be confirmed in the next few days.The decision is expected to be confirmed in the next few days.
Archbishop's regretArchbishop's regret
The election of the Right Reverend Robinson as a bishop in the New Hampshire diocese created an apparently irreconcilable rift between liberal and traditional Anglicans. The election of the Bishop of New Hampshire, the Right Reverend Gene Robinson, created an apparently irreconcilable rift between liberal and traditional Anglicans.
Liberals believe the Bible should be reinterpreted in the light of contemporary wisdom.Liberals believe the Bible should be reinterpreted in the light of contemporary wisdom.
Traditionalists insist that it unequivocally outlaws homosexuality.Traditionalists insist that it unequivocally outlaws homosexuality.
I regret the fact that there is no will to observe the moratorium in such a significant part of the church in North America Dr Rowan WilliamsArchbishop of CanterburyI regret the fact that there is no will to observe the moratorium in such a significant part of the church in North America Dr Rowan WilliamsArchbishop of Canterbury
To avoid expulsion from the Communion, the Episcopal Church agreed a temporary ban on the ordination of gay bishops.To avoid expulsion from the Communion, the Episcopal Church agreed a temporary ban on the ordination of gay bishops.
But, impatient for change, its General Convention meeting in Anaheim, California, voted on Monday to end the moratorium.But, impatient for change, its General Convention meeting in Anaheim, California, voted on Monday to end the moratorium.
The Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams - who is head of the 70-million-strong worldwide Anglican Communion - said it "remained to be seen" whether the vote by the House of Deputies - made up of clergy and lay people - would be endorsed by the US Episcopal House of Bishops.The Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams - who is head of the 70-million-strong worldwide Anglican Communion - said it "remained to be seen" whether the vote by the House of Deputies - made up of clergy and lay people - would be endorsed by the US Episcopal House of Bishops.
"I regret the fact that there is no will to observe the moratorium in such a significant part of the church in North America," he added."I regret the fact that there is no will to observe the moratorium in such a significant part of the church in North America," he added.
The BBC's religious affairs correspondent Robert Piggot said the drafters of the motion say it still leaves room for dioceses to exercise restraint, and keep in effect to a moratorium.The BBC's religious affairs correspondent Robert Piggot said the drafters of the motion say it still leaves room for dioceses to exercise restraint, and keep in effect to a moratorium.
But, he said, if it does lead to the election of another gay bishop, the decision will make it all but impossible for the Communion to stay intact.But, he said, if it does lead to the election of another gay bishop, the decision will make it all but impossible for the Communion to stay intact.
The crisis could intensify further as the Episcopal Church could be about to end a second moratorium, on the blessing of same-sex relationships in church services.The crisis could intensify further as the Episcopal Church could be about to end a second moratorium, on the blessing of same-sex relationships in church services.