he global Anglican Communion got through its scheduled day of reckoning over homosexuality yesterday with Toronto Bishop Colin Johnson giving credit to the Holy Spirit for avoiding an open split between liberal and conservative bishops.<\/p>\n
Less bullish observers of the church’s decennial Lambeth Conference in Canterbury, England – attended by more than 600 bishops – chalked up the absence of rift to a boycott by 230 prelates who say homosexuality is against God’s will, and a conference structure carefully crafted to rule out decisions being made.<\/p>\n
Bishop Johnson, acting as spokesman for fellow liberals at the closed talks, said he couldn’t speak for any bishops having changed their minds during the one day scheduled for discussion of sexuality but “I think probably some have nuanced their positions. … The conversation continues. We are continuing to engage.<\/p>\n
“The third party in the conversation is the Holy Spirit, and in listening to one another and the Holy Spirit we can have an encounter and be transformed.<\/p>\n