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US Anglicans consecrated in Kenya US Anglicans consecrated in Kenya
(10 minutes later)
Kenya's Anglican Church has consecrated two US bishops in a move expected to deepen the global rift within the Church over homosexuality.Kenya's Anglican Church has consecrated two US bishops in a move expected to deepen the global rift within the Church over homosexuality.
Bill Murdoch, of Massachusetts, and Bill Atwood, of Texas, will be answerable to the Kenyan Church, although they will serve in the US.Bill Murdoch, of Massachusetts, and Bill Atwood, of Texas, will be answerable to the Kenyan Church, although they will serve in the US.
They left the Episcopal Church after it consecrated gay Bishop Gene Robinson. They left the US Episcopal Church after it consecrated an openly gay bishop.
There are growing tensions in the worldwide Anglican Communion, mainly over the issue of sexuality. There are growing tensions within the Anglican denomination around the world, mainly over the issue of homosexuality.
There are an estimated 77 million Anglicans worldwide.
Strong oppositionStrong opposition
The two Americans were consecrated at a service at All Saints Cathedral in Nairobi, by Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi. The two Americans were consecrated at a service at All Saints Cathedral in Nairobi by Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi.
The ceremony was expected to be watched by a huge congregation of Kenyans, by archbishops and bishops from across Africa, and by their friends and supporters from the US. The ceremony was expected to be watched by a huge congregation of Kenyans, by archbishops and bishops from across Africa, and by the men's friends and supporters from the US.
"American males who are homosexually active have a life span that is three decades shorter than the norm," Bill Atwood told the Associated Press news agency on Wednesday.
"How can a church say, 'You are precious, we care about you, we love you, we want the best for you and now we want to bless behaviours that cause you to die three decades early'?"
We need to love them [gay people], we need to preach to them, but not to make them lay readers, pastors, bishops Archbishop NzimbiWe need to love them [gay people], we need to preach to them, but not to make them lay readers, pastors, bishops Archbishop Nzimbi
Last year, the Truro Church and the Falls Church from the US, unhappy with the stance of the Episcopal Church, voted to place themselves under the authority of the Anglican Archbishop of Nigeria, Peter Akinola. Archbishop Nzimbi said the consecration was not intended to widen the gulf in the church, but was a Christian response to a plea for help and pastoral care from Anglicans in the United States.
The church in Africa is conservative and deeply opposed to the ordination of gay priests. Gay people, he said, did not have a place as leaders in the Anglican communion.
Archbishop Nzimbi said the consecration was not intended to widen the gulf in the church, but to care for Anglicans who have been deserted by the Episcopal church.
Gay people, he said, do not have a place as leaders in the Anglican communion.
"We need to love them, we need to preach to them, but not to make them lay readers, pastors, bishops," he said."We need to love them, we need to preach to them, but not to make them lay readers, pastors, bishops," he said.
In February, Anglican bishops meeting in Tanzania issued an ultimatum to the American Church, demanding an end to the appointment of gay clergy and the blessing of same-sex couples. African authority
Last year two US churches, unhappy with the Episcopal Church's stance on homosexuality, voted to place themselves under the authority of the Anglican Archbishop of Nigeria.
The Anglican Church in Africa is conservative and deeply opposed to the ordination of gay priests.
In February, Anglican bishops meeting in Tanzania issued an ultimatum to the American church, demanding an end to the appointment of gay clergy and the blessing of same-sex couples.
US bishops have until 30 September to respond.US bishops have until 30 September to respond.
Meanwhile, the Episcopal diocese of Chicago on Tuesday included a lesbian priest among five nominees for bishop.Meanwhile, the Episcopal diocese of Chicago on Tuesday included a lesbian priest among five nominees for bishop.