CANTERBURY, England (RNS) — Allowing same-sex blessings and an openly gay bishop in the U.S. have caused Anglicans to be “ridiculed” for belonging to “the gay church,” harmed interfaith relations and severely damaged the Anglican Communion, bishops at a once-a-decade meeting here said Aug. 2.
“The issue of homosexuality has challenged us and our churches on what it might mean to be a communion,” the bishops said. “Confidence in the validity of the Anglican Communion, the bonds of affection and our mutual interdependence is severely damaged.”
More than 650 bishops from the 38 provinces in the worldwide Anglican Communion, including its U.S. branch, the Episcopal Church, met here through Aug. 3 for the decennial Lambeth Conference.
Threats of schism in the communion have steadily grown since an openly gay man was elected bishop of New Hampshire in 2003.
Many Anglicans — particularly in Africa, where Anglicanism is growing — believe the Bible prohibits homosexuality, and nearly 200 bishops are boycotting the conference, refusing to meet with North American liberals.
While Lambeth Conference organizers have discouraged binding resolutions here, the bishops are working on a “reflections document” that will state the mind of the communion.
The bishops' comments on Aug. 2 were part of the document's fourth draft, which Kenneth Kearon, secretary general of the Anglican Communion, said was unlikely to change much before the conference ended Sunday.
The bishops' reflections say “the ordination of an openly partnered homosexual bishop and the open blessing of same sex relationships” have had “many negative results,” including:
• mission partners lost;
• the church being “ridiculed” as “the gay church”;
• damaged ecumenical and interfaith relationships:
• decreased confidence in the Anglican Communion;
• increased “sexual license”
Also noted, however, are “positive effects in parts of Canada, the U.S. and England when homosexual people are accepted as God's children” and treated with dignity, according to the bishops.
The bishops said there is “widespread support” for moratoria on blessing same-sex unions, ordaining gay bishops and interference in each other's national churches.
But they admit “moratoria will be difficult to enforce, so there are some fears as to whether it will hold.”
Meanwhile, some bishops are pushing for less talk and more action.
“I value the listening and to have voices heard,” said Archbishop Paul Kwong of Hong Kong, “but we need some concrete action to be taken.”
Earlier this week, a group tasked with solving the crisis in the communion also suggested that bishops agree to stop ordaining gay bishops, blessing same-sex relationships and intervening in each other's churches.
Bishop Charles Jenkins of Louisiana said some American bishops are willing to “sacrifice” for the good of the communion and hold off on gay blessings and bishops.
“It is possible to make a sacrifice without selling out,” Jenkins said.
But no formal, binding resolutions have been passed here, and with the conference to end Sunday, none were on the horizon. Some Episcopal bishops say the church already agreed not to authorize gay blessings and bishops at their General Convention in 2006.
“It's nice to have the opportunity for the [other bishops here] to learn that,” said Bishop Edward Little II of Northern Indiana. “Many had not realized the Episcopal Church had” already agree to the moratoria.
But while the Episcopal Church has agreed not to authorize rites for same-sex relationships, many bishops allow them in their diocese. Bishop Marc Andrus of San Francisco, for example, said Saturday he will continue to bless gay unions.
“It's a justice issue,” Andrus said. “We cannot afford to wait while lesbian, gay, transgender and transsexual persons continue to be denied their civil and human rights.”
Bishops here are also mulling a “covenant” that would outline basic Anglican beliefs and consequences for churches that deny or reject those beliefs. While the idea has broad support, the actual document is likely at least several years away from being finalized and approved.
“There is tension between wanting to take time over the process and the need for urgency,” the bishops' reflection document says.