New Gay Anglican Battle Erupts

London) Conservative Anglicans around the world still reeling after last year's appointment of a gay bishop in the United States went into shock Saturday with the news that another openly gay cleric was being appointed to one of the most prestigious positions in the Church in England.

Dr Jeffrey John is being named Dean of St. Albans and traditionalists say the appointment will be the straw that broke the camel's back and lead to a breakup of the faith.

Dr John was the target of an international attack last year when the Archbishop of Canterbury attempted to elevate him to a bishop. Led by conservatives in Britain and in Africa opponents of gay reforms in the Church launched an attack that included threats of breaking away and hate mail directed at both John and Archbishop Rowan Williams.

Dr John eventually withdrew his name as bishop assumptive of Reading (story) saying he wanted to preserve church unity. In the United States, the American wing of the Anglican Church elected Gene Robinson as bishop of New Hampshire, an action that continues to have repercussions throughout the worldwide Church. (story)

http://www.365gay.com/newscon04/04/041704anglicans.htm

SNIP

Oh my Gay Stars!

The way their breaking up the church!

Pretty soon, the church'll be telling me I should love my brother, that I should live and let live, that the important part of my faith is my relationship with God...

Hey, wait a minute!

If there was any justice in the world, Fr. John would be re-appointed to the bishopric he was denied last time.

For those who don't follow it, Jeffrey John is not exactly the "lightning rod" that Gene Robinson was. For one thing, although gay, he's not partnered, and committed to living a celibate life. He has also said (in the past -- his opinion may well have changed after what happened in the last couple of years) that he doesn't advocate allowing the ordination of non-celibate gays and lesbians.

Nonetheless, and despite the fact that he should have been the ideal "credit to his sexual orientation" ;-) gay bishop from the conservative point of view, his election as Bishop of Reading prompted an unbelievably huge outcry from traditionalists in England and elsewhere, each claiming that, should he be consecrated, schism would result. Although he "officially" declined the appointment as bishop, inside sources told that he was essentially ordered to refuse by the Archbishop of Canterbury (ostensibly a liberal, but who has been doing a great impression of a pink-tutu since taking office :grr: ), against his will, and that he was personally devastated by being made to turn down the appointment.

I'm glad he has now been appointed Dean of St. Alban's (even though it is a lesser post than bishop), primarily because it will p*ss off the same Anglican conservatives who are trying to get the entire U.S. Episcopal Church kicked out for "abandonment of Biblical standards of morality." :eyes: And I hope Fr. John will have learned from his own experience what giving in to pressure from rabid conservatives gains you (nothing) and emerge radicalized from his experience!

i love the anglican or episcopal church on the one hand.
but their refusal to take on certain issues with vigor is frustrating.
they have a guiding principal -- but as you put it so well -- compromising and giving in to extreme conservatives isn't gaining them anything -- and not coming to the vigorous defence of gay and lesbian people is very, very hurtful.
let the conservatives go -- the church will survive and grow. and from my point of view be better for it.