The Primates, who met in London from July 16-18, concluded its findings by demanding that the US House of Bishops "reconsider their position" and conform to the recommendations of the primates' Tanzania communique.

"We ask you, our Executive Council, to make a public report of how much money the Episcopal Church has spent in recent years on court costs and attorney fees in these extensive litigations. In what budget is it accounted for? Has any income from trust funds been used to support these litigations? How much and from which funds?

And once again the diocese will seek consents from 100 dioceses for Lawrence in the hope of bringing an end to an embarrassing episode in its life and history - the rejection of a well-qualified bishop for an orthodox diocese.

Failure to receive consent is not unprecedented. In 1934 the Rev. John Torok was denied consent as Bishop Suffragan of Eau Claire (Wisconsin). No one else has been denied consent in more than 70 years.

"I challenge African Americans to critically engage the relationship between Christianity and homosexuality in the same faithful way that a critical engagement of Christianity and race is offered. In the inheritance of the black church as the center of black people's lives, black pastors, as heirs and keepers of this sacred canopy, can lead others in dismantling its sin of homophobia and heterosexual supremacy.