On Thursday, Anglican leaders temporarily limited the role of the American Episcopal Church in their international fellowship. The sanction has been imposed because the American branch of the communion allowed its clergy to perform same-sex marriages.
New York Times reported that the Anglican archbishop's decision to impose such sanction leaked out near the end of a weeklong gathering in England. The archbishop of Canterbury, Most Rev. Justin Welby was the one who called the meeting. The archbishop wanted to unite the Anglican Communion and break divisions that caused some members to question their authority.
In 2003, the Episcopal Church, which is the Anglican body in the US, accepted same-sex marriage in New Hampshire. The purpose of the disciplinary actions made by the Anglican Communion was to limit the Episcopal Church's participation in their ministry. While traditional elders of the Anglicans were glad about the restriction, they said that the sanction did not go far enough.
A task force was formed to try to reconcile conflicting views over sexuality in 85 million members of the church. According to BBC News, Episcopalians have been barred for three years from any policy-setting. Rev. Welby wanted to keep the church from splitting apart. However, the Anglican Spiritual leader does not have to authority to force a compromise. Rev. Welby set a news conference back in Friday in Canterbury to elaborate more why the leaders arrived in such sanction.
Meanwhile, Bishop Michael Curry told the other Anglican leaders that their vote and decision will bring pain to the lesbians and gays to Episcopalians. The Episcopalian bishop, who also went to the meeting in Canterbury, said that these people are determined to follow Jesus in the way of love. Bishop Curry defended his congregation who were gays and lesbians but said he was still committed to the Anglican family. Christians all over the globe joined together to form the Global Anglican Future Conference as a fellowship within the communion. Billings Gazette reported that the Anglicans distanced themselves from the US Episcopal Church.
On Thursday, the press office for Anglican leaders in Canterbury said that the leaders are committed to walking together unanimously. The leaders also said that the majority in the meeting reaffirm that Biblical teaching that marriage is only the union of a man and a woman. Moreover, they also said that the Episcopal Church's consecration of same-sex marriage is a fundamental departure from the faith and teaching.
"Episcopalians no longer represent us on ecumenical and interfaith bodies and have the equivalent of observer status in Anglican commissions", the Anglican leaders said.
Other countries like South Africa, New Zealand, Scotland, and Brazil have taken steps towards accepting gay relationships. The US Episcopalian Church might be alone in approving gay marriage in the church, but Anglican Church of Canada is yet to schedule a vote on a proposal that would approve same-sex marriage.
