ANGLICAN CRISIS CONTINUES

ANGLICAN CRISIS CONTINUES

Sydney Star Observer, Australia

In a sign Anglicans' deep divisions over homosexuality could widen further, the Church’s Sydney synod has voted to reconsider its links with the Church of England.

Sydney’s Anglican synod passed a motion this week calling for debate about its relationship with the English Church.

Anglican reverend Mark Thompson said gay issues were at the heart of a possible split, Reuters reported. "The current crisis in the Anglican Communion has been brewing for some time, but (has been) brought to a head by the consecration of a practising homosexual," Thompson said in a statement.

Australian Anglicans’ national leader, primate Phillip Aspinall, recently said he believed the Church could find a middle ground despite differences over homosexuality.

The Nigerian Anglican Church has already removed references to Canterbury – Anglicism’s traditional centre – from its constitution, apparently angered by North American Anglicans’ support for gay rights.

Conservative Anglican leaders are due to meet in Egypt later this month, possibly to discuss establishing a separate Anglican Church.

Meanwhile, plans are in place for the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, to meet gay Anglican bishop Gene Robinson for the first time when he visits London next month.

The Guardian reported Williams was not opposed to meeting Robinson, whose appointment as bishop of New Hampshire in the US is a factor in the ongoing tensions in the worldwide Church.