Archbishop apologises to gays for ‘hurt’ caused by church

The primates on the more conservative end of the church wanted the Episcopal Church’s full withdrawal for three years, a period during which they would not be able to be present or vote at meetings, according to a spokesperson for Archbishop Foley Beach of the Anglican Church of North America, a breakaway group of conservative churches in the USA that has not been formally recognized by the Anglican Communion.

It also represents a personal boost for the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rev Justin Welby, who has made “reconciliation” a key plank of his tenure in the role said the Telegraph.

The Archbishop of Canterbury apologized today to the LGBTI community for the “hurt and pain” caused by the Anglican Church.

Mr Bryant, a former Anglican curate who became the first MP to enter into a civil partnership in the Houses of Parliament, added on Twitter: “A woman who calls herself Christian has emailed she is delighted I have given up on the Anglican Church because she says I’m not welcome”.

Paulist Father Ron Roberson, associate director of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Secretariat for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, said he doubted the suspension would have an impact on ARCUSA, the 50-year-old dialogue between the Episcopal Church and the USCCB Committee on Ecumenism and Interreligious Affairs. Rev. Edward J. Konieczny said the possibility of actions that may affect relationships among Anglican Communion members was among the reasons why he voted against certain measures at the Episcopal Church’s summer 2015 meeting. Despite that, he does not believe that this sanction from the Anglican Communion will change anything here.

A Nigerian gay Anglican who gave only his first name, Chijioke, said religious leaders on the continent should be focusing on issues such as bad government and poverty rather than obsessing about issues of sexual orientation.

The Episcopal Church, which has about 2 million members, is among the most liberal of Anglican provinces in the world and has continuously divided opinion among Anglicans with its policies. The Episcopal Church is the Anglican body in the United States.

However, the church’s head Bishop Michael Curry has vowed not to back down on equality – even as his church was blocked from Anglican decision-making bodies and suspended from the Communion.

The most vocal protests to the Episcopal embrace of gay rights came from Africa, home to some of the fastest-growing churches in the Anglican communion and the deepest opposition to gay relationships as a violation of Scripture. Ever since, theological conservatives, led by Anglican leaders in Africa, have demanded some penalty for the US church. He also acknowledged that the move would send a painful message to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.

Archbishops and bishops from around the world, met this week behind closed doors in the crypt of Canterbury Cathedral in England. The sanction levied against the USA church for its attempts to be inclusive makes second-class Anglicans of its members.

“News media reports that the Episcopal Church has been suspended from the Anglican Communion’ reflect a misconception regarding our polity and identity”, they said in a statement.

Konieczny said he knew that the Episcopal Church’s decisions regarding same-gender marriage would be discussed at the recent meeting in England.

“There will be heartache and pain for many”, he said, “but it’s important to remember that we are still part of the Anglican Communion, we are the Episcopal Church, and we are part of the Jesus movement, and that movement goes on”.