…[Rowan Williams’] action, taken after years of patiently asking both conservatives and liberals to abide by agreed rules, will affect both sides in the dispute over whether the Bible permits openly homosexual clergy.<\/p>\n
It has been triggered by the progressive Episcopal Church of the USA, which ordained its first lesbian bishop, the Rt Rev Mary Glasspool, earlier this month. The Episcopal Church also elected the first openly homosexual bishop in the Communion, the Rt Rev Gene Robinson, in 2003.<\/p>\n
But the move will also hit orthodox provinces in the developing world \u201d\u201c known as the Global South \u201d\u201c that reacted to the liberal innovations in America and Canada by taking conservative American clergy and congregations out of their national churches and giving them roles in Africa and South America. This has triggered bitter legal battles over the fate of church buildings.<\/p>\n
The Anglican provinces found to have broken the \u201cmoratoria\u201d\u009d – on ordaining homosexual clergy; blessing same-sex unions in church; and making \u201ccross-border interventions\u201d\u009d – will soon be sent letters telling them about the proposed punishment for straying from the Communion\u2019s agreed positions.<\/p>\n