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SYDNEY’s Anglican Archbishop, Peter Jensen, and his five assistant bishops have rebuffed the worldwide leader of the Anglican Church in his attempts to heal the bitter division in the international church over gay bishops and same-sex unions.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, had issued invitations to 800 Anglican bishops to attend a conference of Anglican primates next year in Britain.

But Dr Jensen and his bishops have delayed responding to the invitation, issued personally by Dr Williams, saying they hesitated to sit at the same table as those who supported the consecration of gay bishops and the blessing of same-sex unions.

Progressive Anglicans have accused Dr Jensen of seeking to embarrass the head of the Church of England.

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The Rt. Rev. Robert Moody points to various pictures adorning the hallways and rooms of the Episcopal Conference Center with a voice registering pride and a certain wistfulness.

The items serve to highlight the Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma and Moody’s career as its bishop: A charming handmade map of the state showing a smattering of Episcopal churches ”” some still viable and others no longer in existence. A picture of a smiling Moody posing with priests during one of the diocesan conventions. A photograph of Moody with other colorfully robed bishops, taken at the 1998 Lambeth Conference, one of the periodic assemblies of bishops of the Anglican Communion.

Surrounded by the pictures and memorabilia, Moody is preparing to retire after 20 years as bishop. Elected by a majority of Episcopal clergy and laity on the first ballot in 1988, Moody came to Oklahoma with his wife, Lance, from Virginia, where he had been rector of Grace Church in Alexandria.

Moody spoke recently to The Oklahoman about retirement, the challenges and rewards of being Oklahoma’s Episcopal bishop and his thoughts about the future of the diocese.

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Voting members at an assembly of the nation’s largest Lutheran denomination on Friday rejected an effort by the Greater Milwaukee Synod and 20 other synods to end a ban on homosexual clergy who are in committed relationships.

However, Bishop Craig Johnson of Minneapolis kept the possibility of change alive by introducing a resolution that would allow congregations, bishops, regional synodical councils and the national presiding bishop to jointly allow exceptions to the ban case by case.

Other resolutions also could come to the floor when the Churchwide Assembly, the ELCA’s highest legislative authority, reconvenes today. With 4.8 million members, the ELCA is the nation’s largest Lutheran denomination.

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Frequent tours for U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan have stressed the all-volunteer force and made it worth considering a return to a military draft, President Bush’s new war adviser said Friday.
“I think it makes sense to certainly consider it,” Army Lt. Gen. Douglas Lute said in an interview with National Public Radio’s “All Things Considered.”

“And I can tell you, this has always been an option on the table. But ultimately, this is a policy matter between meeting the demands for the nation’s security by one means or another,” Lute added in his first interview since he was confirmed by the Senate in June.

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For as long as I can remember, I’ve resisted mixing religion and sports. Whether it’s football teams reciting the Lord’s Prayer after a game or chaplains in clerical collars sitting on the bench during basketball games, I watch with a skeptical eye. Do folks really think God has the time or interest to devote to a sports competition? At the small college where I once served as chaplain, I refused to follow tradition and offer a prayer over the public address system before every home football game. Instead, I offer a challenge to the teams and fans to exemplify good sportsmanship.

So those who know me cannot help but smile whenever they hear me referred to as the “football chaplain.”

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