Anglicans not yet Split over Gay Row, but Division Lingers

The U.S. Episcopal Church and Anglican Church of Canada have not yet agreed to withdraw from an International council at the request of global leaders who questioned their unorthodox views on homosexuality.

By Pauline J. Chang, Christian Post Reporter Friday, February 25, 2005

The U.S. Episcopal Church and Anglican Church of Canada have not yet agreed to withdraw from an International council at the request of global leaders who questioned their unorthodox views on homosexuality.

"No, no decision has been made on the request for voluntary temporary withdrawal from the Anglican Consultative Council," Jan Nunley of the U.S. Episcopal Church center wrote. "The Presiding Bishop will be conferring with other leaders in the church about this, probably next week."

Archdeacon Jim Boyles, General Secretary of the Anglican Church of Canada told CTV.ca that “The primates’ request will be considered by the Anglican Church of Canada by the executive council when it meets in May.”

The responses came in light of the Anglican Primates’ requests on Thursday, to withdraw the North American churches from the Anglican Consultative Council in the period leading up to an international gathering in July 2008

“Within the ambit of the issues discussed in the Windsor Report and in order to recognise the integrity of all parties, we request that the Episcopal Church (USA) and the Anglican Church of Canada voluntarily withdraw their members from the Anglican Consultative Council for the period leading up to the next Lambeth Conference,” Thursday’s communiqué stated.

Whether or not the ECUSA and the Anglican Church of Canada accepts the request, the head of the 77-million member communion, the Archbishop of Canterbury, admitted the possibility of division still exists.

"We still face the possibility of division, of course we do," said Archbishop Rowan Williams.
"That's not going to go away. Any lasting solution will require people somewhere along the line to say, 'Yes, we were wrong'."

"The North American Churches have been told very clearly and directly about the potential cost of the actions they have taken," he said.
"The question now put is, given that cost, where do you want to put yourself? How close do you want to be to the other Churches in this family?"