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(New York City) Episcopal bishops at odds over
homosexuality ended a private meeting Wednesday saying they had failed to reach
agreement over dioceses that reject the authority of the church's incoming
national leader, who supports gay relationships.
The 11 bishops said they
"were unable to come to common agreement on the way forward," although
they recognized the need to accommodate the dissenting dioceses.
"The level of openness
and charity in this conference allow us to pledge to hold one another in prayer
and to work together until we have reached the solution God holds out for
us," the bishops said in a statement. They did not say whether another
meeting was planned.
Archbishop of Canterbury
Rowan Williams, the spiritual leader of the world Anglican Communion, had asked
the U.S. bishops to hold the talks. He is struggling to keep the Anglican family
unified despite deep rifts over whether same-gender partnerships violate
Scripture.
The Episcopal Church is the
U.S. arm of the Anglican fellowship.
In 2003, the American
denomination caused an uproar when it consecrated its first openly gay bishop,
V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire. This past June, the divisions intensified
when the Episcopal General Convention elected a new presiding bishop who
approves of ordaining partnered gays. Nevada Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori,
the first woman to lead the church, will be installed Nov. 4.
Now, seven conservative
dioceses are asking Williams for alternative oversight from an Anglican leader
who shares their traditional views. The dioceses are Dallas; Central Florida;
Fort Worth, Texas; Fresno, Calif.; Pittsburgh; Springfield, Ill., and South
Carolina.
Among the bishops who
participated in the three-day talks were Jefferts Schori and Pittsburgh Bishop
Robert Duncan, leader of a network of Episcopal conservatives who are
considering breaking away from the denomination. Williams also sent a
representative.
Conservatives are a minority
in the 2.3-million-member U.S. church, but a split could still cause extensive
damage. Episcopal leaders fear a break will prompt expensive and bitter legal
fights over parishes that take their property with them when they leave.
Worldwide, Williams has
proposed giving Anglican churches with nontraditional views on issues like gay
clergy a lesser role in the communion under a two-tiered system meant to prevent
a schism.
©365Gay.com 2006
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