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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| US Anglicans join Kenyan Church | US Anglicans join Kenyan Church |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Kenya's Anglican Church has consecrated two US bishops in a move likely to deepen a bitter row over homosexuality. | Kenya's Anglican Church has consecrated two US bishops in a move likely to deepen a bitter row 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 US branch of the Anglican Church - the Episcopal Church - after it consecrated an openly gay bishop. | They left the US branch of the Anglican Church - the Episcopal Church - after it consecrated an openly gay bishop. |
| There are growing tensions within the Anglican denomination around the world, mainly over the issue of homosexuality. | There are growing tensions within the Anglican denomination around the world, mainly over the issue of homosexuality. |
| Strong opposition | Strong 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. |
| They vowed to "serve the international interests of the Anglican Church of Kenya, to serve clergy and congregations in North America under the Kenyan jurisdiction". | They vowed to "serve the international interests of the Anglican Church of Kenya, to serve clergy and congregations in North America under the Kenyan jurisdiction". |
| The ceremony was 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. | The ceremony was 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. |
| We need to love them [gay people], we need to preach to them, but not to make them lay readers, pastors, bishops Archbishop Nzimbi | We need to love them [gay people], we need to preach to them, but not to make them lay readers, pastors, bishops Archbishop Nzimbi |
| Earlier, 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. | Earlier, 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. |
| Gay people, he said, did not have a place as leaders in the Anglican communion. | Gay people, he said, did 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. |
| African authority | 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. | 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. |
| Much of 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. | 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. |