Michiana's Rainbow Gazzette - Anglican head may meet with gay bishop

Anglican head may meet
with gay bishop

The archbishop of Canterbury is planning to meet Gene Robinson, the gay U.S. bishop at the center of a conflict over sexuality within the worldwide Anglican Communion.

According to press reports, Dr. Rowan Williams is being lined up to meet Robinson, who was consecrated as the bishop of New Hampshire in 2003, when he visits the United Kingdom next month.

The Guardian reports that Williams has “no objection” to meeting the gay bishop, despite threats from traditionalists within the communion that they will break up the 70 million-strong church unless Robinson is stripped of his role.

However, the paper says a meeting is yet to be set up.

The proposed discussions come as the row over sexuality within the Anglican Communion continues to simmer. Conservatives in both the Western and developing world have called for more action against the North American branch, which elevated Robinson and offered blessings to same-sex couples.

Last month, the Nigerian church moved to cut ties with the Church of England for the first time, in protest for what it views as an unnecessary acceptance of lesbian and gay Christians. Additionally, small groups of Western believers are threatening to break away and form islands within their respective countries.

In response, a small group of Nigerian gay Anglicans have spoken publicly about the issue for the first time, after the country's primate, Peter Akinola, compared them to dogs.

“Let society change their attitudes towards gays and lesbians,” the group wrote for the country's Daily Sun . “You have them in every sector in Nigeria , even in government. It is just that they are hidden because of the contempt the society has for them, and it is the church that can lead the campaign for the change of attitude towards us.”

The group also called for Akinola to engage directly with them, so he could understand the issues affecting them more fully.

That message is likely to be echoed in the meeting between Robinson and Williams, should it take place.

However, the Rev. Rod Thomas, spokesman for the conservative evangelical group Reform, told The Guardian that the meeting could widen the schism.

“Anything which appears to be going further in the direction of a liberal agenda is likely to exacerbate the crisis facing the Anglican Communion,” he said. “The archbishop must not appear sympathetic to those who have caused the crisis.”

Posted October 20, 2004