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admin · Site Admin Joined: 25 May 2007 Posts: 5404

Bishop Draws Episcopal Anger

Nigeria Today Online
30th April '07

The Nigerian archbishop, Peter J. Akinola, will preside over a ceremony in Virginia on May 5 installing Martyn Minns, former rector of an Episcopal church there, as the bishop of the Convocation of Anglicans in North America, an offshoot of the Nigerian church. The convocation was created in part to oversee congregations that no longer want to be in the Episcopal Church but would like to remain in the Anglican Communion. Katharine Jefferts Schori, the presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, said in a statement that Archbishop Akinola's acceptance of "an invitation to episcopal ministry in the U.S. without any notice or prior invitation" was not in keeping with "the ancient practice in most of the church" that bishops minister only within their own jurisdictions. "This action would only serve to heighten current tensions," the statement said, "and would be regrettable if it does indeed occur."

Archbishop Akinola is the primate of the largest region, or province, in the 77-million-member Anglican Communion. He is also the leader of an increasingly successful alliance between theological conservatives in North America and those in the developing world that is pushing the Episcopal Church to renounce its acceptance of gay men and lesbians or face exclusion from the communion. Archbishop Akinola's office did not reply to an e-mail message seeking comment about his visit. But Bishop Minns said the convocation that he is to lead was not interfering with the Episcopal Church. "The reality is that there is a broken relationship between the Episcopal Church and the rest of the communion," Bishop Minns said. "We want to give people a freedom of choice to remain Anglican but not under the Episcopal Church as it is currently led."

Those loyal to the Episcopal Church said the visit provided yet another glimpse of the alienation that some in the communion feel toward them. "The archbishop of Nigeria may think the Episcopal Church has acted wrongly, but that is quite different from using that as an excuse to cross boundaries and do things that violate longstanding practice," said the Rev. Mark Harris, a member of the Executive Council, which governs the Episcopal Church between the conventions it holds every three years. Mr. Harris, associate priest at St. Peter's Church in Lewes, Del., said Archbishop Akinola "is making clear that he considers the church in Nigeria is not in communion with the Episcopal Church."

But theological traditionalists like the Rev. Dr. Kendall S. Harmon, canon theologian of the Diocese of South Carolina, said there was mounting impatience among some conservatives with the Anglican leadership. In March, Episcopal bishops rejected demands, put to them earlier in the year by Anglican primates meeting in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, that they create a parallel leadership to serve the conservative minority of Episcopalians who oppose their church's stance on homosexuality.

The global primates at that meeting issued that demand as part of a broader ultimatum insisting that the Episcopal Church pledge not to consecrate partnered gay bishops and that it stop bishops and priests from authorizing blessings of same-sex couples. Explaining the views of theological conservatives who may be drawn to joining Bishop Minns's convocation, Dr. Harmon said, "The frustration is: We've been asking; we've been waiting. Where is the way for us to continue as some kind of catholic Christianity that has connection to the worldwide church?"

admin · Site Admin Joined: 25 May 2007 Posts: 5404

I respect his decison to abide by the TRUTH rather than mere Tradition.

Cxsm
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May we be strengthened with the ability, willingness and capabilities to be good ambassadors of Nigeria contributing to its uplifting, rather than its detriment. - Cxsm

LadyK · LoyalBee Joined: 06 Jun 2007 Posts: 69

They should not be allowed..this behavior is a CLEAR ABOMINATION...clearly stated in the bible. People need to get real and quit treating God like a salad bar...picking up the pieces they want and leaving the nasty beets to the side....you all know what I mean.

admin · Site Admin Joined: 25 May 2007 Posts: 5404

Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams Says Homosexual Relationships Okay

Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams wrote that the Bible doesn't forbid same sex relationships when there is a commitment similar to traditional marriages, a British newspaper reported Thursday.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/200808..._ylt=AonJX_0PNp9NozMmSG8tSvw7Xs8F
_________________
May we be strengthened with the ability, willingness and capabilities to be good ambassadors of Nigeria contributing to its uplifting, rather than its detriment. - Cxsm

admin · Site Admin Joined: 25 May 2007 Posts: 5404

Some Canada Anglicans May Reject Same-Sex Moratorium

Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, leader of the global Anglican church, warned on Sunday that the 80-million-member church would be "in grave peril" if the U.S. and Canadian branches did not agree to moratoriums on same-sex blessings and on the ordination of gay bishops.

A quarter of the world's Anglican bishops, principally from Africa, Latin America and Asia, boycotted the decennial Lambeth (England) Conference of Anglican leaders, which ended on Sunday, because of the liberal stance on homosexuality taken by the U.S. Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church of Canada.

Canada is one of the few countries in the world that has legalized gay marriage, although churches are not compelled to perform the gay wedding ceremonies.

Full story http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/200808..._ylt=AsjesiJxbQSZ8fTvM2l1.5A7Xs8F