Episcopal Bishops repudiate Anglican Communion Moratorium on Gay Bishops

July 14th, 2009
By the Rev. J. Philip Ashey,
C.O.O. & Chaplain, American Anglican Council

After several hours of small group discussions and debate, and by an overwhelming vote, the Bishops of The Episcopal Church (TEC) approved a resolution which repudiates the Anglican Communion moratorium on any further consecration of homosexual or lesbian candidates as bishops. The vote was not even close: 99 in favor, 45 against, and 2 abstentions. Only a simple majority was required to approve the resolution. This vote effectively overturns the moratorium that had been requested by the Windsor Report, the Primates of the Anglican Communion meeting in Dar es Salaam in 2008, and the Windsor Continuation Group Recommendations to the Anglican Consultative Council meeting in Jamaica just over a month ago.

The resolution which was approved, D025, also overturns resolution B033, which backed the moratorium on gay ordinations and which was passed at the General Convention in 2006 after the Primates of the Anglican Communion requested three moratoria in line with the Windsor Report. Resolution D025 includes the crucial acknowledgement ‘that God has called and may call such individuals (gay and lesbian persons in committed relationships) to any ordained ministry in the Episcopal Church…’

The Archbishop of Canterbury himself pleaded with the House of Bishops not to approve Resolution D025. Speaking to reporters yesterday at the close of the Church of England General Synod, Dr. Rowan Williams said that he regretted the decision by the Episcopal House of Deputies to overturn the moratorium on the consecration of gay bishops. He went on to say in comments that seemed to be addressed specifically to the House of Bishops, "If the House of Bishops chooses to block then the moratorium remains. I regret the fact that there is not the will to observe the moratorium in such a significant part of the Church in North America." the rest