Third World Anglicans Mount New Gay Challenge To Church

[davidinalameda]

http://www.365gay.com/newscon05/10/102405anglicans.htm

The agenda for this week's gathering of conservative Anglican clerics from the third world includes dialogue with Islam and fighting poverty. But the wider message is expected to be protest: Another frontal attack against gay clergy and same-sex unions that threaten to break apart the world's 77 million-member Anglican communion.

The six-day meeting, beginning Tuesday in Egypt, will bring together some of the leading opponents of liberalizing trends and highlight the growing strength of Africa and other places outside the traditional Anglican spheres of influence in England and North America.

More than 120 conservative clerics and loyalists are expected from across the so-called Anglican "south" - Africa, Asia and Latin America - who have increasingly warned they could form independent, breakaway churches. The tensions have become so alarming that the leader of the Anglican communion, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, plans to travel to Egypt in an apparent attempt to calm dissent led by powerful Nigerian Archbishop Peter Akinola (pictured).

let them go!

if I was an Anglican, I'd be saying good riddance

[Zenlitened]

Gay challenge? Which Lifeline was that again?

"I'd like to use my gay challenge, Regis."

"Okay, let's get a homosexual on the phone..."

:D

[William769]

1. But I guess goats are still ok?

[teenagebambam]

2. It's true, it's true!

My partner is a music minister in an Episcopal chrurh with a high population of African emigres. My partner's sexuality isn't such a big deal to them sinc he's "just" the music minister. Unbenownst to them, however, the interim rector is ALSO gay. I'm sure a schism with the main church is not far off.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

3. It's a mess

and I say the sooner they split off the better. Let them worship the way they want and we'll worship the way WE want.

I'm Episcopalian and tired of this.

[Siyahamba]

4. They could be focusing on poverty, hunger, ending to warfare...

But no, gays are a much bigger danger in the Third World.

[kevinbgoode]

5. Let them financially support themselves

for godsakes - these are congregations that were developed by colonialists and imposed upon traditional African society. They generally are financially dependent on Western congregations - so let them fend for themselves now. They don't have to use us as human sacrifices in order to maintain their faux religious purity.

[freestyle]

6. This is not worth a split, but if they go, they go.

I am an Episcopalian and head of the local Integrity chapter, and I'm just tired of this. Whether the U.S. and Canada have full inclusion of GLBT people in the life of the Church should not rise to level of a schismatic issue. Scriptural authority is thin and quite debatable and Jesus is silent.

As a black man, I can appreciate the global south seizing an opportunity to push back. As a black gay man, I cannot accept my so-called brothers attacking me as outside of the body of Christ and using the Episcopal church's acceptance of me as a reason to declare themselves out of communion. It is painfully ironic to see those who had so much stolen through colonization cling to the most backwards elements of the religion of the colonizers. Enough is enough.

[Ally McLesbian]

7. Great point, freestyle

"It is painfully ironic to see those who had so much stolen through colonization cling to the most backwards elements of the religion of the colonizers. Enough is enough."

I couldn't agree more. The same is also true of Asian countries like India and the Philippines.