US Episcopal Church appoints first female bishop

AMERICA’S Episcopal Church has elected Nevada Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori as the presiding bishop of the denomination, making her the first woman to lead any church in the global Anglican Communion.

The choice of Bishop Jefferts Schori may worsen – and could even splinter – the already difficult relations between the American denomination and its fellow Anglicans, which includes the Church of Ireland.

Episcopalians have been sparring with many in the other 37 Anglican provinces over homosexuality, but a female leader adds a new layer of complexity to the already troubled relationship. Placing a female bishop at the head of the denomination could further anger conservatives worldwide and even within the US church.