The Nigerian Bishops have decided not to attend the Anglican Church's 10 yearly conference in Lambeth this year because of their disgust at the ordination of openly Gay U.S. Bishop Gene Robinson in 2003, and the continuing practice of the blessing of same-sex couples in the Anglican Church.
The Archbishop of Sydney, Australia made the same decision earlier this month and the Kenyans followed suit last thursday, followed closely by the Ugandan Bishops. Rwanda had already pledged their alliance to the African Council of Churches and will also not be attending.
Added to this the American Diocese' that have split from the Anglican Church and allied themselves with the African Churches and it will mean that more than 30 million members, less than 50% of the Anglican Church will be represented.
What does this all mean to me? I hear you ask.
Just this. The Anglican Church is not as showy as the Catholic Church but does have enormous power politically in America (of course) and the emerging countries of West Africa. That this huge organisation is pulling itself apart, and has been doing so for the last 5 years is a sign on the
wall. Polarisation is inevitable, and apparent.
Expect the anti-Gay backlash to come from the church, not the state.
No comments:
Post a Comment