Episcopal House Affirms Commitment to Remain with Anglican Communion
Friday, Jun. 16, 2006

The Episcopal Church's top policymaking body was wrestling Friday with demands from fellow Anglicans to bar gays from the office of bishop for now.

A committee shepherding the General Convention response was considering whether it should revise a proposal that stops short of a moratorium. The legislation asks dioceses only to "exercise very considerable caution" when choosing their leaders.

Supporters of gay clergy have pleaded with Episcopalians not to create new barriers for homosexuals to maintain the church's role as the U.S. arm of the global Anglican Communion.

However, convention delegates have been coming under pressure from leading Anglican officials to toughen their legislation. Archbishop of York John Sentamu, the second-highest ranking cleric in the Church of England, is observing the meeting and has told Episcopal leaders that the measure does not go far enough toward healing Anglican divisions. the rest