"We are convinced that what is at stake in this crisis is the very nature of Anglicanism - to understand it simply in terms of the need for greater inclusivity in the face of changing sexual ethics is a grave mistake. It is not just about sexuality but also about the nature of Christ, the truth of the Gospel and the authority of the Bible. We see a trend that seems to ignore the careful balance of reformed catholicity and missionary endeavor that is our true heritage and replace it with a religion of cultural conformity that offers no transforming power and no eternal hope."

The current situation is a twofold crisis for the Anglican Communion: a crisis of doctrine and a crisis of leadership, in which the failure of the "Instruments" of the Communion to exercise discipline has called into question the viability of the Anglican Communion as a united Christian body under a common foundation of faith, as is supposed by the Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateral. Due to this breakdown of discipline, we are not sure that we can in good conscience continue to spend our time, our money and our prayers on behalf of a body that proclaims two Gospels, the Gospel of Christ and the Gospel of Sexuality.

They said the current situation is a twofold crisis for the Anglican Communion: a crisis of doctrine and a crisis of leadership, in which the failure of the "Instruments" of the Communion to exercise discipline has called into question the viability of the Anglican Communion as a united Christian body under a common foundation of faith, as is supposed by the Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateral. Due to this breakdown of discipline, we are not sure that we can in good conscience continue to spend our time, our money and our prayers on behalf of a body that proclaims two Gospels, the Gospel of Christ and the Gospel of Sexuality.

The Anglican leaders urged a postponement of the Lambeth Conference next year, a position that the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams refused to consider when confronted by this reporter with that question at the House of Bishops meeting in New Orleans. Preparations were too far advanced for Lambeth to be postponed he said, acknowledging that Archbishop Peter Akinola (Nigeria) and other voices had called for such a postponement. The two-page statement released by the CAPA primates called for a special primates' meeting and a postponement of next year's Lambeth Conference.

"We believe that meeting together is essential if we are prayerfully to allow the Holy Spirit to work through our interactions and bring us to a common mind," the primates said.

Such a delay would allow them to review the actual response made by The Episcopal Church and to "finalize the Covenant proposal and set a timetable for ratification by individual provinces."

However there has been significant criticism that such a "covenant" would not offer a way forward for the communion largely because if it pleased conservatives, liberals would not endorse it and vise versa. Many orthodox Episcopalians and Anglican have expressed the view that the Articles of Religion written in 1801 by the Bishops, the Clergy, and the Laity of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, are adequate as a basis for unity for the whole Anglican Communion.

The newly elected chairman of CAPA, the Most Rev. Ian Ernest, while a kinder, gentler leader than outgoing Nigerian Primate Peter Akinola has demonstrated that he is opposed to the innovations of The Episcopal Church. In August the Indian Ocean Archbishop assisted in the consecration of two missionary bishops to the United States in Kenya. In a statement issued on the final day of the CAPA meeting, Archbishop Ernest said unity "must never be at the expense of the truth of the Holy Scriptures that is the bedrock of our faith."

A priest from the Diocese of Harare blasted the CAPA leaders saying they should stand firm against homosexuality and not attend Lambeth next year.

The Rev. Morris Brown Gwedegwe wrote to VOL saying the Primates had not come out strongly enough against the liberal Episcopal Church and Church of England leaders. "I have serious objections to homosexuality based on our cultural beliefs, which are supported by Holy Scripture. What has gone wrong with our consciences? What is so special about the British and the Americans? The Bible condemns such practices. We Africans are being used as scapegoats. Please educate your fellow bishops that the wider road leads to hell."

Gwedegwe said Africans who say homosexuality is not an issue misses their fifth sense. "They have been brainwashed by the American dollar. We in the Diocese of Harare call on the new Chairman of CAPA, the Most Rev. Ian Ernest to stand for Africa. "We want you and us to be on the side of Jesus and not of man."

The priest, whose Central African province is splitting over the issue, said the American Bishops lied when they said there was no September 30, 2007 deadline calling for a stop to same sex blessings and homosexual ordinations. "The Primates resolved that in Dar es Salaam. When they went back to America, and debated the issue, they were busy preparing to elect the Rev. Tracey Lind, a lesbian, to be Bishop of Chicago. At the same time, whilst they were preparing for the New Orleans meeting of the HOB, Archbishop Rowan Williams was conducting a secret service for gay priests in England, all for the love of the dollar. Archbishop Williams has no morals. He has compromised himself on the Civil Partnership motion passed at the CofE General Synod." We Africans We are too soft, he said.

He urged the CAPA bishops to re-read again the Communique which read: "We are convinced that what is at stake in this crisis is the very nature of Anglicanism - to understand it simply in terms of the need for greater inclusivity in the face of changing sexual ethics is a grave mistake. It is not just about sexuality, but also about the nature and person of Jesus Christ, the truth of the Gospel and the authority of the Bible. We see a trend that seems to ignore the careful balance of reformed catholicity and missionary endeavor that is our true heritage, and seeing it replaced with a religion of cultural conformity that offers no transforming power and no eternal hope."

"If we are to go by this, your statement, then there is no need for African Bishops to go to the Lambeth Conference next year. I am concerned with the softness from our African Camp. We think and write very intelligent communiques, but action is always delayed. Let us move with speedily to God so our children will have a legacy to follow."

Canon Dr. Stephen Ayo Fagbemi, an African resident in Sunderland in the Diocese of Durham. England wrote VOL critical of the liberal Bishop of Botswana Trevor Mwamba who was present at the CAPA meeting, saying that the liberal bishop did not represent the mind of Africans regarding homosexuality.

"I was stunned and rather disappointed by his claim that 'Loud voices from Africa, aided by the "almighty dollar" and internet lobbyists, are distorting the true picture of what Africa's 37 million Anglicans really think about sexuality and the future of the Anglican Communion'. This is not only disparaging of those who speak with honesty on this issue, but is also false and demeaning to suggest that those who are opposed to the homosexual agenda in Africa do so because they are aided by the 'almighty dollar'. Such an accusation makes me wonder whether Bishop Mwamba's own position has been influenced by the 'almighty dollar' or 'sterling'.

"As an African I feel really insulted by this argument and wonder why any one would defend any position, however credible, because of financial inducement. Many Africans who have been unduly subdued by Western paternalism or imperialism need to be delivered of this mindset. They believe that you are not allowed to take a different position to your colonial masters or Americans because of their monetary influence."

Present in Mauritius were:

The Most Rev'd Peter J. Akinola, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion)
**The Most Rev'd Justice Akrofi, The Church of the Province of West Africa
The Rt. Rev'd Philip Baji*, The Anglican Church of Tanzania
The Most Rev'd Fidele Dirokpa, Province de L'Eglise Anglicane Du Congo
The Most Revd Ian Ernest, The Church of the Province of the Indian Ocean
The Most Rev'd Emmanuel Kolini, L'Eglise Episcopal au Rwanda
The Most Rev'd Bernard Malango, The Church of the Province of Central Africa
The Rt Rev'd Trevor Mwamba*, The Church of the Province of Central Africa
The Most Rev'd Bernard Ntahoturi, The Anglican Church of Burundi
The Most Rev'd Benjamin Nzimbi, The Anglican Church of Kenya
The Most Rev'd Henry Orombi, The Church of the Province of Uganda
**The Rt Rev'd Johannes Seoka*, The Anglican Church of Southern Africa
The Rev'd Canon Dr. Sami Fawzy Shehata*, Diocese of Egypt *Representing the Province
** Absent during discussion of Communique due to travel schedule

END