The Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion has threatened to breakaway from the Church of England over the decision of the later to drop opposition to gay bishops in civil partnerships.
The announcement, from the Church’s House of Bishops, would allow gay clergy to become bishops if they promise to be celibate. The move that did not go down well with Conservative evangelical Anglicans.
Arising from its 2013 annual retreat, held at the Ibru Centre, Agbarha Otor, Delta State, the Bishops of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) said they heard with dismay, the news of the recent action of the Church of England House of Bishops.
“When the Church of England failed to exercise its legal and moral right to opt out of the civil partnerships legislation in 2005 warnings were given in England and around the Anglican Communion that this was a first step towards the recognition and institutionalization of behaviour contrary to the plain teaching of scripture and reaffirmed for all Anglicans by the 1998 Lambeth Conference in its Resolution 1.10.
“Sadly those warnings were ignored and we now face the next step in a process that could very well shatter whatever hopes we had for healing and reconciliation within our beloved Communion.
“We are also grieved by the timing of this decision coming only days before the retirement of Archbishop Rowan Williams and before Dr. Justin Welby becomes the new Archbishop of Canterbury.
“We urge the House of Bishops to reconsider their decision so as to allow for a full, prayerful and sober reflection on the call on all clergy, especially bishops, to live holy lives and not encourage what are, at best, morally ambiguous partnerships that make it impossible for a bishop to be a wholesome example to the flock. Especially, since the supposed assurances of celibacy, while perhaps well intentioned, are both unworkable and unenforceable.
“As a House of Bishops, while we acknowledge that we all fall short of God’s call to holiness, we dare not compromise the clear teaching of our Lord on faithfulness within Holy Matrimony and chastity outside of it.
“Sadly we must also declare that, if the Church of England continues in this contrary direction we must further separate ourselves from it and we are prepared to take the same actions as those prompted by the decisions of The Episcopal Church (USA) and the Anglican Church of Canada ten years ago.”
The issue has split the church since 2003 amid a row over gay cleric Jeffrey John becoming Bishop of Reading.
Mr John, now Dean of St Albans, was forced to withdraw from the role shortly after having initially accepted it, following protests from traditionalists.
He was also a candidate for Bishop of Southwark in 2010 but was rejected. Evidence emerged that this was because of his sexual orientation. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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They are have not pulled out already but giving warning, how else wil one show he dosnt support evil if not by shuning it. Many true christians in anglican are now renouncing their fate cause of the mess in their church. Anglicans be wise. Nikky
ReplyDeleteHmmmmmmm I hv stp goin 2 d church I hv chng my church so pple beta runnnnnnnn 4rm dat house call church wooooo beta 4 ur lfy.
ReplyDeletePulling away will be the best to show we are innocent. Oyibo man brought Christianity to us. But today we are sending missionaries to them because they have fallen! May God have mercy on them.
ReplyDeleteHuhuhuhu hihihihi, I still dey laugh o
ReplyDeleteWe are in the perilous time as prophesied in the Bible so the enemy is on rage to destroy families(thru divorce)goverment(thru corruptions)scholls(cults)churches(gay,lesbian,sins including men and women of God)attacking those who still have FAITH and receive our Lord Jesus Christ truthfully(in their hearts)that is why he attacked the hearts with evil thoughts n all kinds of rubbish.he knows his time is very short.may the good Lord God help us.L.A.O
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