Anglican Church faces split over gay bishops row

THE Anglican Church was edging closer towards a split last night over the ordination of gay bishops and the blessing of same-sex unions.

US and Canadian Anglicans have been called on to voluntarily withdraw their representatives from the Anglican Consultative Council to create space for agreement between the conservative and liberal wings of the church.

Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams said there was a powerful will to resolve the problems in the church but did not rule out a future split.

Speaking after a five-day meeting of Anglican primates near Newry, Co Down, he said the willingness to resolve their problems had been impressive.

“Giving ourselves room to speak clearly to each other has got to be a positive development. It might end up in further division. We hope not. We will try to avoid it,” he added.

Fears of a major fracturing in the Anglican communion surfaced after US Anglicans appointed an openly gay priest, Gene Robinson, as bishop of New Hampshire.

At the same time, the diocese of New Westminster in Vancouver introduced a service of blessing for same-sex couples.

Conservative Anglicans have demanded the North Americans withdraw from the communion or repent for their actions.

The Anglican Consultative Council (ACC), which is made up of bishops, clergy and lay people, has been asked to set in motion a process to allow for discussion ahead of the Lambeth Conference in 2008.

Richard Kicker, general secretary of the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement, said: “If the Anglican communions knows what’s good for it, they should start listening. The prognosis is not healthy if they do not. It will become known as the anti-gay church and what church is going to attract healthy people on that belief?”

David Allison of gay rights group Outrage said he believed a split was probable.