GAY BISHOP MUST GO “OR THE CHURCH WILL SPLIT,” SAYS NASSAU PRIMATE

By Jonathan Petre, Religion Correspondent

The Telegraph

June 21, 2004

Anglicanism’s first openly gay bishop was invalidly consecrated and must be removed to prevent global schism, declared Archbishop Drexel Gomez of the West Indies.

In a dramatic escalation of the church’s internal war over homosexuality, Archbishop Gomez—a member of the Lambeth Commission tasked with preserving unity—issued an ultimatum: Bishop Gene Robinson of New Hampshire must be stripped of his office, or the Anglican Communion will split.

Such a move would be unprecedented. While Jeffrey John withdrew as Bishop of Reading in 2003 before consecration, Robinson was fully installed.

Gomez’s position, supported by theologians including Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali of Rochester, echoes arguments previously made by Archbishop Rowan Williams during the John controversy.

These proposals were presented to the 17-member Lambeth Commission during a critical U.S. meeting. The commission’s final report, due in October 2004, will determine the Communion’s future.