Episcopalians scolded for appointing gay bishop

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LONDON -- Leaders of the 77 million-member Anglican Communion reproached U.S. Episcopalians yesterday for appointing an openly homosexual bishop, but conceded that they had no power to stop his consecration.

If the Episcopalians, who make up one province of the Anglican Communion, go ahead with the consecration of Canon V. Gene Robinson as bishop of New Hampshire, "the future of the Communion itself will be put in jeopardy," 37 primates of the church warned in a public statement concluding a two-day emergency conference.

"We have reached a crucial and critical point in the life of the Anglican Communion," the primates' statement said. Consecration of Canon Robinson "will tear the fabric of our Communion at its deepest level and may lead to further division on this and further issues."

The statement was signed by all 37 church leaders, but the Most Rev. Frank T. Griswold, presiding bishop of the U.S. Episcopal Church, sounded a defiant note at a news conference just minutes later.

"While anything can happen, including the Second Coming, I expect to be in New Hampshire on the second of November," he said. Nov. 2 is the scheduled date for the consecration of Mr. Robinson, a divorced father of two who has lived with his male lover for more than a decade, as the new bishop of New Hampshire.

The Diocese of New Hampshire responded yesterday with a jubilant statement lauding Anglican leaders for their "wisdom" and inviting them to consecration ceremonies at the University of New Hampshire in Durham.

"We invite them to join us in worshipping, praying, studying Scripture, breaking bread and celebrating our unity in God's love and mercy," it said. "We grieve that others in the Anglican Communion have felt deep pain with these issues. Despite our differences, we pray that we can move forward together in service to our Lord."

The primates' statement said they all "deeply regret the actions of the Diocese of New Westminster and the Episcopal Church U.S.A." in evading provisions of the Anglican Church's 1998 resolution that rejected the practice of homosexuality as "incompatible with Scripture." New Westminster in British Columbia was the scene of a same-sex blessing that also roiled the church.

Bishop Griswold announced that he numbered himself among "those of us who are not part of that deep regret." He added that "I stand fully behind the Diocese of New Hampshire as to who it wants as its next bishop."