June 3, 2010
Anglican leader urges penalty, after Episcopalians, other Anglicans violate gay moratoria
Kilian Melloy READ TIME: 1 MIN.
The spiritual leader of the world's Anglicans wants to sideline provinces that violate moratoria on ordaining partnered gays and on other contentious activity in the splintering fellowship. The proposal is expected to cost Episcopalians their formal role in shaping Anglican doctrine and in conducting dialogue with other faiths.
Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams said in a May 28 statement that provinces that fail to heed the requests of Anglican bodies cannot be in a position to "represent the communion as a whole." The Episcopal Church, the Anglican province in the U.S., last month consecrated its second openly gay bishop, Los Angeles assistant Bishop Mary Glasspool, who has a female partner.
Two Episcopalians serve on the Anglican-Orthodox Theological Dialogue and one serves on the Inter-Anglican Standing Commission on Unity, Faith and Order, which handles question of church doctrine and authority, according to Anglican and Episcopal news services.
Williams said affected provinces will soon be contacted about the changes.
The 77-million-member Anglican Communion is a global fellowship that traces its roots to the Church of England.
Kilian Melloy serves as EDGE Media Network's Associate Arts Editor and Staff Contributor. His professional memberships include the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association, the Boston Online Film Critics Association, The Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association, and the Boston Theater Critics Association's Elliot Norton Awards Committee.
