Nigerian church cuts off US
2003-11-21 08:00
Abuja - The Anglican Church in Nigeria formally severed relations on Thursday with the Episcopal Church in the northeastern US state of New Hampshire over its consecration of a gay man as bishop.
The primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), the Most Reverend Peter Akinola, said in a statement issued in Lagos that the decision not to recognise the gay bishop was reached at a meeting of the Conference of Bishops of the church.
"By this unfortunate incident, they have departed from the faith, order and unity of the Anglican Church. They have impaired the communion," said Akinola, the leader of the 17.5 million-member Anglican Church of Nigeria, the largest Anglican province outside of England.
The announcement was not unexpected, as Akinola recently warned that the Nigerian Church could "no longer claim to be in the same communion" with Episcopalians, who form the US branch of the Anglican Communion. Other non-US bishops have said the consecration of the gay bishop could create a schism between their churches and the Episcopal Church.
Gene Robinson was consecrated as an openly gay bishop by the New Hampshire church on November 2 in spite of protests and condemnation from members of the Episcopal Church in the United States and other churches worldwide in the Anglican Communion.
The Anglican Communion is a group of Protestant churches rooted in the Church of England with 77 million members worldwide.
Akinola stressed that the Church of Nigeria was solidly behind other bishops that decide to sever relationships not only with the New Hampshire diocese, but with all the bishops and dioceses in the Episcopal Church of the United States involved in the "divisive and unscriptural act".
Akinola's statement also pledged support and commitment to churches in the United States and other parts of the world that stood "with the truth of the Bible, practise and order of the Anglican Communion as handed over to them by the saints".
Akinola assumed office as the head of the Nigerian Christian umbrella body on November 12.
The Russian Orthodox Church on Monday cut ties with the Episcopal Church in the United States over its ordination of Robinson, the Voice of America reported. The Russian Orthodox Church said the ordination of a homosexual bishop made any communications with the bishop or those who elected him impossible.
The Russian Church went on to describe homosexuality as a grave sin, adding it could not show any sign of acceptance of a position that it considers un-Christian and blasphemous.
A large minority of the 2.3-million-member US church also opposed Robinson's appointment. - Sapa-DPA
- SAPA