Backlash against gay bishop begins

ANGLICANS did not have to wait long for the backlash following the consecration of a gay bishop by the allied Episcopal church in the US.

The Anglican Church of Nigeria with 17 million members, the second largest in the world yesterday refused to recognise Sunday's consecration of openly gay Gene Robinson as Bishop of New Hampshire.

The Ugandan Anglican church cut all ties with the New Hampshire diocese and in Australia, the Anglican archbishop of Sydney branded Robinson a "bishop of disunity".

The Anglican Church of Egypt said it would not recognise the first openly gay bishop and considers those who participated in his consecration separated from the church.

In a statement issued on behalf of the primates of the "global south," Nigerian Archbishop Peter Akinola said: "We deplore the act of those bishops who have taken part in the consecration, which has now divided the church in violation of their obligation to guard the faith and unity of the church."

The statement called on the Archbishop of Canterbury and head of the Anglican Communion, Rowan Williams, to create new structures of "Episcopal oversight" to enable church members who break relations with the US Episcopal Church over the issue to remain in fellowship with the global Anglican Church.

"We are appalled that the authorities within the Episcopal Church USA have ignored the heartfelt plea of the communion not to proceed with the scheduled consecration," the statement said.

"The admission of homosexuals in the church is unacceptable to the church," said Stanley Ntagari, a spokesman for Ugandan Anglicans.

"The church of Uganda will break communion with the New Hampshire diocese and we do not recognise that man as a bishop."

New Hampshire's retiring Bishop Douglas Theuner said Bishop Robinson would "stand as a symbol of the unity of the church" but Sydney Archbishop Peter Jensen said: : "Of course, the exact reverse is the truth. He is a disuniting bishop and he has been put forward in the face of an immense amount of opposition."

He said he was saddened by the appointment "because the word of God teaches us clearly what the standards are for Christian behaviour in leaders and Canon Robinson does not fulfil those requirements."

He said: "This creates a split for the first time in a particular area and that's a tragedy but it's necessary if the truth is to be preserved.

Archbishop Jensen was also critical of the stance taken by the Archbishop of Canterbury: "I would have preferred if the archbishop had spoken more clearly about the fact that this should not have gone ahead because it is against God's word."