Anglicans at odds with Episcopalians over liberal leadership of female bishop

The Episcopal Church has rejected a recommendation by Anglican leaders to form an alternative leadership structure for conservative U.S. dioceses and parishes that are at odds with the liberal leadership of Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori.

The Episcopal Church has rejected a recommendation by Anglican leaders to form an alternative leadership structure for conservative U.S. dioceses and parishes that are at odds with the liberal leadership of Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori.

Some observers think the bishops’ defiance could lead to the exclusion of the Episcopal Church from the Anglican Communion following increasing differences over the issue of homosexuality. Meanwhile, a New York Times article noted that the Episcopal Church finances at least a third of the Anglican Communion’s annual operations and a split could have serious financial implications.

The primates of the Anglican Communion, during a meeting in Tanzania in February, called on the Episcopal Church to stop granting official prayers for homosexual couples and stop the consecration of homosexual bishops. Anglican leaders believe homosexuality violates Scripture, and they asked the Episcopal Church to adhere to that teaching or face discipline, the Associated Press reported.

Also, the primates expressed concern over the growing number of U.S. dioceses and parishes breaking with the Episcopal Church and affiliating with Anglicans in other nations, which is against communion tradition and has led to lawsuits over church property. The primates suggested that disgruntled dioceses and parishes could submit to the leadership of a conservative structure parallel to Schori in the United States, and they gave the Episcopal Church until Sept. 30 to respond.

But the bishops of the Episcopal Church said in an initial response March 22 they are unwilling to compromise the church’s autonomy and its commitment to the full inclusion of “all God’s people,” including homosexuals, in church life, The Times said. A more complete response is expected by September.

“The concern is that that would indicate we are, in some sense, subservient to the primates, rather than simply a church in fellowship with them,” Bishop Mark Sisk of New York told The Times. “And that could have significant legal implications.”

In a March 20 article, The Times said at least $18 million is given by the Episcopal Church headquarters to support aid and development programs in the Anglican Communion’s poorer provinces in Africa, Asia and Latin America, and millions more are sent directly from American churches to Anglican causes worldwide each year.

But The Times reported that no one in the Episcopal Church has threatened to cut off that flow of money because of the ultimatums handed down by the primates.

“We certainly are in partnership with people who disagree with us, and that’s just fine,” Rob Radtke, president of Episcopal Relief and Development, told The Times. “We give our money based on the need, and not on the basis of some theological discussion.”