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London, 20th February 2007 (CNA) - Leaders of
the worldwide Anglican Communion, meeting this week in Dar es Salaam,
Tanzania, have issued an ultimatum to the Episcopal Church of the United
States, demanding an end to the appointment of gay clergy and the blessing
of same-sex couples.
According to the BBC, the document calls for the
U.S. Episcopal bishops to "make an unequivocal common covenant that the
bishops will not authorize any Rite of Blessing for same-sex unions."
It also orders the U.S. Episcopal Church not to
ordain any other priests who are active homosexuals, requiring the bishops
to agree that "a candidate for Episcopal orders living in a same-sex union
shall not receive the necessary consent - unless some new consensus on these
matters emerges across the Communion."
The Anglican Communion statement warns that if
the above assurances can not be given by September 30th, the Episcopal
Church could be removed from the worldwide Communion.
"If the reassurances requested of the House of
Bishops cannot in good conscience be given,” the bishops write, “the
relationship between the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion as a
whole remains damaged at best…And this has consequences for the full
participation of the Church in the life of the Communion.”
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams,
said the document provided "a challenge to the Episcopal Church to clarify
its position,” and “a challenge also to those who have intervened from
elsewhere to see if they can negotiate their way towards an acceptable,
equitable, settlement."
He admitted the communique would "certainly fall
very short of resolving all the disputes", but said it would "provide a way
of moving forward with dignity".
Archbishop Williams called the Tanzania meeting
due to growing unrest over the issue. Following the Episcopal Church’s
decision to consecrate the openly-gay Gene Robinson as Bishop of New
Hampshire in 2003, many parishes, dioceses, and faithful in the U.S. began
calling for a split of the U.S. church, and sought to unite themselves with
dioceses abroad.
To address this growing unrest, the document
also announced the setting up of a pastoral council to represent the
international church leaders in the US.
Anglicans who do not agree with the Episcopal
Church's stance on homosexuality will be able to worship separately to the
others, under the auspices of the council.
The body will be made of up five members - three
of whom will be appointed by non-US clergy.
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