The Church of England Newspaper reports that bishops of the Episcoal Church, USA will meet next month in an unprecedented conference. The issue of homosexuality — most recently broght to the point of crisis by the election of an openly-gay bishop — may be the catalyst for a division of the church.
Here’s how the article opens: “American bishops will meet for a critical summit next month to discuss ways that the Episcopal Church’s assets can be divided up amongst liberals and conservatives if they are unable to reach a way forward together. A group of bishops will gather in Los Angeles, with options on the table ranging from vows of continued episcopal bonhomie, to a trial separation, to a division and distribution of the Church’s assets. A cross-section of liberal and conservative bishops hopes to ‘sort out the complicated relationship between parishes and dioceses and properties,’ one southern bishop said.”
More: “The genesis for the settlement meeting arose from discussion among the members of the cross-party coalition that put together the “House of Bishops’ Covenant” which pledged to halt the consecration of all bishops — not just homosexual ones — in deference to the recommendations of the Windsor Report. . . . Conservative activist, Canon David Anderson of the American Anglican Council, questioned the propriety of a bishops-only meeting but agreed something needed to be done. “There is a pressing need for open and honest conversation about irreconcilable differences in the Episcopal Church. Whether the meeting would be genuine or duplicitous, only time will tell.’”
SEE: American Bishops in Final Bid to Resolve Differences, The Church of England Newspaper, June 10, 2005.