The conservative Anglican archbishop of Sydney today branded an openly gay US church leader a “bishop of disunity” and said his consecration had split the global Anglican communion.

Anglicans in the US plan to go ahead with the consecration of an openly gay bishop in defiance of a warning that it could “tear the fabric” of the Church and jeopardise its continued union.

A CLERGYMAN seeking to become the first openly gay bishop in the Episcopal Church was “surprised and dismayed” by 11th-hour allegations questioning his reputation but remained calm as an investigation got under way, a spokesman said yesterday.

The clergyman seeking to become the first openly gay bishop in America’s Anglican Church was “surprised and dismayed” by eleventh-hour allegations questioning his reputation, a spokesman said today.