Williams praises American bishops over gay moratorium
-17/03/05
The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Revd Rowan Williams, has welcomed the decision by American bishops not to appoint any new bishops or bless same-sex unions for at least a year.
The bishops, under attack from conservatives for consecrating Anglicanism’s first openly gay bishop, decided yesterday that such activities would be suspended before the Episcopal Church’s next General Convention in June 2006 when the issues could be more fully debated.
The bishops also made a formal statement which expressed ‘deep regret’ for the pain that others within the Anglicam communion had experienced. They offered their ‘sincerest apology and repentance’ for any failure to consult adequately with other members of the Anglican communion.
“They have clearly sought to respond positively to the requests made of them in the Windsor Report and in the CommuniquÈ issued after the recent Primates Meeting” the Archbishop of Canterbury said.
“It is clear that there has been a real willingness to engage with the challenges posed” he said.
The statement and decisions emerged yesterday from the House of Bishops of the Episcopal Church of the United States of America (ECUSA), during their spring meeting in Camp Allen in Texas.
Episcopal bishops said ‘extraordinary action’ was needed to ease the crisis in world Anglicanism.
During the six-day retreat outside Houston, the bishops promised not to authorize ‘public rites’ for blessing same-sex couples for at least a year.
Critics had predicted that more liberal Americans would resist making any concessions, but the decision was taken after an almost unanimous vote.
The actions of the Episcopal church will be seen by many liberals as gracious and forgiving following some strident attacks from conservatives.
The Americans were asked to withdraw from a key Anglican council last month.
They have until the Lambeth Conference of 2008 to decide their course of action.