Anglicans on Brink of Schism

by Tom McFeely
Wednesday, July 15, 2009

In defiance of the majority of the Anglican Communion, the Episcopal Church in the U.S.A. has voted in favor of ordaining homosexual bishops.

The unilateral action by the Episcopal Church, courtesy of a vote by its General Convention, moves the deeply divided Anglican Communion closer to formal schism.

The Los Angeles Times reports today:

Bishops, clergy and lay leaders voted overwhelmingly at the denomination’s General Convention in Anaheim to open “any ordained ministry” to gays and lesbians.

The liberalized policy represents a reversal from guidelines adopted by the church at its last convention in 2006 that effectively prohibited the consecration of bishops whose “manner of life” would strain relations with the 77-million member Anglican Communion.

The Los Angeles Times article quotes a pro-homosexuality Episcopal bishop who believes his church can remain in union with other Anglican churches, despite its actions at the General Convention. the rest