A leader with the Institute on Religion and Democracy says he's not surprised that conservative Anglican leaders are formally calling on the Episcopal Church USA (ECUSA) to reverse the denomination's course regarding issues such as the blessing of same-sex unions.
Last week, leaders of the Anglican Communion provinces, who are known as "primates," issued a statement following their meeting in Tanzania. The statement said the Episcopal Church had disregarded the teaching of the Anglican Communion on human sexuality and asks ECUSA's House of Bishops to reverse the denomination's course regarding the blessing of same-sex unions and the ordinations of bishops in same-sex relationships.
Ralph Webb is director of Anglican Action with the Institute on Religion and Democracy (IRD) in Washington, DC. He says ECUSA's actions are far-reaching. "There's a lot at stake here, because what the Episcopal Church has done ... has really hurt the Anglican Communion," says Webb.
"It has wounded not just itself, but the Anglican Communion [as well]," he explains, "and if it does not reverse its course, then it could just create further devastating wounds to the larger body of Christ."
ECUSA leaders will meet in September to discuss the primates' demands. Webb finds it difficult to determine how Episcopal Church leaders will respond.
"If it were holding to its past performance, it would be basically keeping the status quo," says the IRD spokesman, "which means to say that it may take a step toward the Anglican Communion and then to take two steps back. The question is, is it going to meet the primates' demands?"
Webb says Episcopal leaders have been diverting from scripture with policies and practices for decades.
Meanwhile, Associated Press reports that the Episcopal bishop in Kentucky, Ted Gulick, has apologized to "gay and lesbian church members" for voting last year against allowing more ordinations of homosexual bishops. In his annual report to the diocese's convention, the Kentucky bishop said he voted that way because he was trying to keep the Episcopal Church together and maintain ties with other Anglican churches overseas.
"I hereby publicly and deliberately apologize to our devoted gay and lesbian men and woman in our diocese for whom this [latest] vote causes pain and alienation," Gulick said on Saturday. "I know you to be my sisters and brothers in Christ, [and] I thank you for your patience and forbearance with the church in this season."
According to Associated Press, Gulick "generally supports greater church roles" for homosexuals. In 2004 he voted in favor of consecrating V. Gene Robinson, an open homosexual who is now Bishop of New Hampshire.
Associated Press contributed to this article.
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