Undecided, oblivious, or utterly entrenched
Commentary by Ruth Gledhill

TO OBSERVERS of the General Convention in Ohio it looks as though the US Anglicans have already decided to “walk apart”.

The Episcopal Church of the USA, known by the unwieldy acronym Ecusa, has been renamed the Episcopal Church. This is ostensibly because it includes more than a dozen other countries besides the US. But to many it looks as though an alternative structure, or communion, is being prepared to sit alongside the Anglican Communion should the US be asked to leave the worldwide church.

Schism is not a foregone conclusion, however. Resolutions are currently being “perfected” in a drawn-out committee process that should come to an end soon. They will then be voted upon by bishops and deputies.

In the next few days, delegates will be asked to decide whether the US church should “repent” of its actions in pursuing the liberal gay agenda, or merely of their effect. And they will be asked to decide whether a formal moratorium should be imposed on the consecration of any more gay bishops. the rest