Episcopals agree to curb consecration of gay bishops

COLUMBUS, Ohio (Reuters) – The U.S. Episcopal Church on
Wednesday, reversing an earlier decision, adopted a resolution
to avoid the consecration of additional gay bishops, a move
designed to heal strained relations with 77 million fellow
Anglicans worldwide.

The action reversed a decision made 24 hours earlier when
one of two legislative bodies at the 2.3-million-member U.S.
church’s triennial convention rejected a similar idea.

The resolution adopted by both the church’s bishops and by
lay and clergy diocesan representatives voting in separate
bodies calls on bishops and local committees “to exercise
restraint by not consenting to the consecration of any
candidate (for bishop) whose manner of life presents a
challenge to the wider church and will lead to further strains
on communion.”

Debate during the week-long convention made it clear that
the “manner of life” caution applied to openly gay candidates
for the episcopate.

The church has been in turmoil since its consecration three
years ago of Gene Robinson of New Hampshire, the first bishop
known to be in an openly gay relationship in more than 450
years of Anglican history.