Anglicans Confirm Openly Homosexual Bishop

The Anglicans' spiritual leader, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, appealed for opponents not to act rashly in response to the Rev. Canon V. Gene Robinson's approval on Tuesday as bishop of New Hampshire.

After decades of debate among the denominations' branches around the world over homosexuality, Robinson's confirmation threatened to open a painful rift, particularly between doctrinally conservative Anglican leaders in Asia and Africa and more liberal clergy in wealthy, Western countries.

The Episcopal Church, with 2.3 million members, is the US branch of the 77-million-member Communion. Church leaders in Asia and Africa condemned the Americans' decision and threatened to leave the communion, saying homosexuality was against Scripture and unacceptable.

The Episcopal Church ''is alienating itself from the Anglican Communion,'' said the Very Rev. Peter Karanja, provost of the All Saints Cathedral, in Nairobi.

''We cannot be in fellowship with them when they violate the explicit Scripture that the Anglican Church subscribes to,'' he said. ''We'd counsel they reconsider the decision. It's outrageous and uncalled for.''

Bishop Lim Cheng Ean, leader of the Anglican Church of West Malaysia, said bishops from the communion's nine-nation Southeast Asian province may discuss cutting ties with the US church at a meeting next week.

''Practicing homosexuality is culturally and legally not acceptable here,'' he said.

The Church of Nigeria issued a statement saying Robinson's confirmation ''has brought much sadness and disappointment to us.'' The Anglican Church said it was astonished that the US Episcopalians were willing to ''turn their back on the clear teaching of the Bible on the matter of human sexuality.''

Archbishop of Perth Peter Carnley, the primate of Australia's Anglican Church, said Robinson's appointment would have a negative impact, but doubted it would tear the denomination apart. ''We have to have a debate about how to apply the biblical principles . . . to this modern and contemporary issue,'' said Carnley, who is considered a liberal voice in Australia's Anglican community.

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A few things to ponder:
1. Notice how the western countries (Britain, Australia, and US) are pro-homosexual, and Asia and Africa are against it. The base of Christianity is moving (has moved?) to Africa, Asia, and South America. We just haven't noticed.

2. Homosexuality is an explosive issue. Jordon Cooper quoted a guy in one post who was not against the legalization of homosexual marriages. He made one mention of it. The hate mail he received was incredible. Some guy posted onto his wife's blog that her depression and her recent miscarriage were due to Cooper's liberal theology.

We have to remember that the church isn't here to win a debate over morality. We are here to show people God and to introduce them a life changing relationship with God. While I am in no doubt that the practice of homosexuality is a sin, my plan is to win people with the love of God, not with the venom of my despise.

3. How far is the issue from us of homosexual marriage? Canadian ministers have had to make some decisions about their role in marriages. I had never given any thought to the fact that in the US and Canada, ministers are agents of the government in sanctioning individual marriages. That was certainly not the case in the New Testament, at least I wouldn't think so. Actually I have no idea of the history of governmental recognized marriages. The church may have to move to allowing people to be legally married by the government and spiritually married in a separate service in the church. Interesting...