Episcopal bishops request meeting over same-sex union issues

Published: 2007-03-28

NAVASOTA, Texas (CNS) -- The bishops of the U.S. Episcopal Church have requested a meeting with the head of the worldwide Anglican Communion to discuss ways of avoiding a rupture with other Anglican churches over the ordination of an openly gay bishop and the blessing of same-sex unions. The issues have divided the U.S. church, part of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and alienated the U.S. church leadership from the bishops of many other Anglican churches. The meeting request was sent to Archbishop Rowan Williams of Canterbury, England, the titular head of the worldwide Anglican Communion. Episcopal officials said that as of March 27 the archbishop had not responded to the request. A March 20 resolution by the Episcopal Church's House of Bishops expressed a desire to remain part of the Anglican Communion but said that the bishops cannot accept Anglican calls to end the same-sex blessings or to adopt a policy of not electing openly gay people as bishops. "There is an urgent need for us to meet face to face with the archbishop of Canterbury" and his top advisers, said a resolution approved at the House of Bishops' meeting in Navasota.

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