Anglican Boycott Over Gay Bishop

[DeepModem Mom]

NYT/AP: Anglican Boycott Over Gay Bishop
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: February 15, 2008

NEW YORK (AP) -- Leaders from five Anglican provinces said Friday they will boycott a once-a-decade world Anglican summit because the U.S. Episcopal Church ordained a gay bishop. The five leaders from Africa and South America said they could not share communion with Episcopal bishops who in 2003 consecrated V. Gene Robinson as bishop of New Hampshire. The Episcopal Church is the Anglican body in the U.S.

Friday's announcement came from Archbishops Peter Akinola of Nigeria, Emmanuel Kolini of Rwanda, Benjamin Nzimbi of Kenya, Henry Orombi of Uganda and Gregory Venables of the Southern Cone, which is in South America. ''There is no serious space for those of an orthodox persuasion ... to be themselves or to be taken seriously,'' the archbishops said in a statement. They lead some of the largest or fastest-growing Anglican provinces in the world....

Anglicans are deeply divided over how they should interpret what the Bible says about truth, salvation, homosexuality and other issues. Robinson's elevation has pushed the 77 million-member Anglican Communion to the brink of schism. Attendance at the meeting, called the Lambeth Conference, has become a focus of the tension. The Lambeth event is set for July 16-Aug. 3 at the University of Kent in England.

Several Anglican conservatives, including the five archbishops who announced their boycott Friday, are holding a separate meeting, seen as a rival to Lambeth, June 15-22 in Israel. The five archbishops have also offered oversight to like-minded U.S. Episcopal parishes or dioceses that are splitting from the national church.

Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, the Anglican spiritual leader, did not invite a small number of bishops, including Robinson, to participate at Lambeth.

Earlier this month, bishops from the traditionalist Anglican Diocese of Sydney, Australia, said they would also boycott the event. Still, Williams has said that more than 600 out of 880 bishops have accepted invitations to Lambeth so far.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Anglican-Boycott.html

[pingzing58]

1. Nigeria is one of the most divisive, tribal and corrupt cultures of the world.

Nigerians have created the most money making scams on the internet world. I would never trust a Nigerian. Nigerian tribalism forbids inter-tribal marriage (even though it happens) and perpetuates a tribal royal family culture. As small as the country is the fight over diamonds persists, and Moslem vs. Christianity persists and slavery persists. For me, there is no such "thing" as a Christian Nigerian. Peter Akinola of Nigeria represents evil and deserves no voice in the Anglican Communion. He should be exiled and all his property, riches and belongings should be confiscated and given to the poor of his juresdiction.

[JerseygirlCT]

2. This isn't really news

These jerks have been saying that forever. They're just realizing that Lambeth will actually go on without them, that they are losing their PR battle, and they're looking for another shot at attention.

And all the talk of "deeply divided" is a bit hyperbolic. There are certainly those who wish to turn back the clock: women's ordination, the new prayer book, and inclusion of gays and lesbians is all just anathema to them. They also sort of don't like Anglicanism in general. They're mainly Calvinists who like the costumes, I think.

[JerseygirlCT]

3. Oh, and the titles. nt

[kwassa]

4. SMALL boycott over homosexuality

Akinola is a homophobe of the highest order, and also power-hungry. As the Anglican Communion is a voluntary organization, with no legal authority over any of the other regions, Lambeth is only a symbolic conference and little more. This is a very autonomous church.

Akinola is driving the rival conference, which has the hilarious name of GAFCON. It will be fascinating to see how many actually show up. This might result in a split church, but who cares? The bigots are welcome to leave, as far as I am concerned.

I suspect Akinola will have far fewer followers than he wants.

[JerseygirlCT]

5. Yes, and one wonders how he will fund this new enterprise

I wonder if Ahmanson and his lot will continue to be interested when their beneficiaries aren't part of the US church any longer?

[kwassa]

6. Ahmanson's church lost their lawsuit trying to steal the church

St. James in Newport Beach. This decision is being appealed to the California Supreme Court, and this may also may decide the San Joaquin situation about property.

They are going to lose.

[JerseygirlCT]

7. I know! And I hope!

But I can't see them continuing to be interested when they won't be winning the property and prestige w/in the US. I don't imagine they're much driven by the needs of Anglicans in Nigeria, for instance (not that much is likely to trickle down from Akinola to his flock...)