Episcopalians Defy World Anglicanism With New Pro-gay Actions

The Episcopal Church in the U.S.A. in convention voted to defy the worldwide three-year moratorium on ordaining gay bishops that world Anglicanism agreed to. This may mean American Episcopalians will be expelled from the world Anglican communion. From the BBC:

Bishops of the Anglican Church in the United States have voted to overturn a three-year moratorium on the election of gay bishops. The decision seems likely to lead to the Episcopal Church’s eventual exit from the worldwide Anglican Communion.

The Communion has been fighting to avoid disintegration since the Episcopal Church consecrated the openly gay bishop Gene Robinson in 2003. . . .

To avoid expulsion from the Communion, the Episcopal Church agreed a temporary ban on the ordination of gay bishops. But, impatient for change, its General Convention meeting in Anaheim, California, voted on Monday to end the moratorium.

Not only that, the church body has voted to allow sexually active homosexuals into the pastoral ministry. From CNSNews.com – Episcopal Church to Affirm Homosexual Clergy:

The Episcopal Church moved Monday toward affirming their acceptance of gays and lesbians for all roles in ministry, despite pressure from fellow Anglicans worldwide for a decisive moratorium on consecrating another openly gay bishop.

Bishops at the Episcopal General Convention in Anaheim, Calif., voted 99-45 with two abstentions for a statement declaring “God has called and may call” to ministry gays in committed lifelong relationships.

Lay and priest delegates to the meeting had comfortably approved a nearly identical statement, and were expected to adopt the latest version before the meeting ends Friday.

Leaders of the Anglican Communion have been pushing Episcopalians to roll back their support for gays and lesbians since 2003, when the U.S. denomination consecrated the first openly gay bishop, V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire. The Episcopal Church is the U.S. Anglican body.

This may mean that the new conservative congregations that have broken away from the ECUSA to form their own church body, the Anglican Church of North America (ACNA), may become the ONLY recognized Anglican church in this country, the mainliners reduced to just another radical sect.