Frank Stirk
BC Correspondent
bc@christianweek.org

VANCOUVER, BC-Anglicans appear to be as divided as ever over the issue of homosexuality, despite the recent recommendations of a commission named by the Archbishop of Canterbury to address a crisis that is tearing apart the worldwide Anglican Communion.

At issue were the decision by New Westminster bishop Michael Ingham to sanction a marriage-like blessing of same-sex unions in his diocese and the elevation of Gene Robinson, who is openly gay, to the position of bishop of New Hampshire.

The 17 commission members said both events caused "deep offence to many faithful Anglican Christians." They called the blessing of same-sex couples in particular a "surrendering to the spirit of the age rather than an authentic development of the gospel."

The report urged the bishops involved to express "regret" for the hurt they had caused, and to impose a moratorium on any similar actions until the global church can reach a consensus.

But Ingham is unapologetic, telling the Anglican Journal that the diocese "does regret the consequences of our actions but not the actions themselves. It was not our intention to cause dismay, but affirm the relationships of gay and lesbian people."

Ingham also refused to forbid same-sex blessings in the diocese, at least not before the matter can be discussed at his synod's annual meeting in May.

Archbishop Andrew Hutchison, Canada's new Anglican primate, applauded the fact that the commission members, who represented all sides in the dispute, had issued a unanimous report. "There is a positive will to maintain the unity of the diverse Anglican Communion," he told the Toronto Star.

The report also chastised conservative primates in Africa and southeast Asia for acting far beyond their jurisdictions when they offered parishes disaffected with the Anglican Church of Canada "temporary alternative episcopal oversight."

Both sides, said the report, had failed equally to attach sufficient importance to the "bonds of affection" needed to maintain unity.

So far, the response from conservative Anglicans has been mixed.

"It's a relief to see a frank admission that there is, in fact, a crisis," said George Sinclair with the conservative group Anglican Essentials Canada. "We hope the official structures of the Anglican church receive this report so the crisis will be averted."

Chris Sugden with the evangelical group Anglican Mainstream believes the report gives conservatives the upper hand.

"It is a very English slap on the wrists for the liberals," he told the Daily Telegraph. "If they do not pull back, if they do not express remorse, then they are no longer part of the Church. That is very clear."

But in a scathing letter, Archbishop Peter Akinola, primate of Nigeria-the largest of the Communion's 38 provinces-dismissed the report as being unfairly tilted against conservatives.

"We have been asked to express regret for our actions and affirm our desire to remain in the Communion. How patronizing! We will not be intimidated," he said.

"Instead of a clear call for repentance we have been offered warm words of sentimentality for those who have shown no godly sorrow for their actions and harsh words of condemnation for those who have reached out a helping hand to friends in need of pastoral and spiritual care."

Akinola also hinted that it may now be impossible to avoid schism: "The Bible says that two cannot walk together unless they are agreed. The report rightly observes that if the ‘call to halt' is ignored ‘then we shall have to begin to learn to walk apart.'"