The Archbishop of Canterbury's office yesterday described the election of an openly lesbian bishop in the United States as "regrettable" and warned that it could further threaten the unity of the Anglican Communion.
The London office of Dr Rowan Williams responded to the election of Canon Mary Glasspool to a suffragan see in Los Angeles by warning of "important implications". The statement from Lambeth Palace said that further consultations would now take place and regretted that calls for restraint had not been heeded.
Now that the Archbishop of Canterbury has sent his regrets, we go on with our march forward toward justice and equality without his blessing.
Her election was strongly opposed by conservatives and is expected to exacerbate tensions and imperil the success of the new Covenant process, intended to find a basis of common doctrine and practice for the entire Church.
Well, we can but hope with respect to the imperilment of the "new Covenant process". I thought we already had a New Covenant from Our Lord Jesus Christ.
[Canon Glasspool] added: "I am also aware that not everyone rejoices in this election and consent, and will work, pray, and continue to extend my own hands and heart to bridge those gaps, and strengthen the bonds of affection among all people, in the Name of Jesus Christ."
Mary Glasspool demonstrates what a class act looks like.
The Most Rev Peter Jensen, the Archbishop of Sydney, said: “With the election of the Reverend Mary Glasspool, a partnered lesbian, as a bishop in Los Angeles in The Episcopal Church, the Anglican Communion reaches another decisive moment.
"It is now absolutely clear to all that the national Church itself has formally committed itself to a pattern of life which is contrary to Scripture. The election of Bishop Robinson in 2003 was not an aberration to be corrected in due course. It was a true indication of the heart of the Church and the direction of its affairs.”
No, Archbishop Jensen, the election of Bishop Robinson is not an aberration to be corrected in due course, and it is a true indication of the heart of the church which opens to embrace ALL the baptized.
UPDATE: I note that the words quoted in the article are from the Archbishop of Canterbury's office. Which means what?
