African prelates denounce new Anglican stand on homosexual bishops

January 10, 2013

Leading Anglican prelates in Africa have denounced the decision by the Church of England to allow openly homosexual bishops, saying that the move could destroy the unity of the worldwide Anglican communion.

Archbishop Nicholas Okoh on Nigeria said that the decision by the Church of England “could very well shatter whatever hopes we had for healing and reconciliation within our beloved Communion." He joined Anglican prelates from Uganda and Kenya in protesting the decision, saying that the Church of England had bowed to “the contemporary idols of secularism and moral expediency.”

Although the Church of England is the historic center of the Anglican world, the African dioceses are the most active parts of the Anglican communion. African Anglicans have resisted changes in policy on matters of human sexuality, insisting that their churches must be bound by the moral standards of the Bible and the Christian tradition.

The Church of England announced last week that priests engaged in same-sex partnerships could become bishops, provided that they vowed to remain celibate. Archbishop Okoh dismissed the celibacy pledge as “unworkable and unenforceable.”

 

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Further information:

• African Anglicans denounce Church of England gay bishop rule (Reuters)
• Church of England rules bishops can enter same-sex partnerships (CWN, 1/4)