www.eastandard.net/hm_news/news.php?articleid=3515
Columnists Anglicans deal major blow to gay priests By Samwel Rambaya It was sweet victory for Kenyan Christians as the much-awaited report onthe Anglican crisis ruled against ordination of gay priests and same sex marriages. And as predicted in our yesterdays edition, the report also proposed radical reforms in the structure of the 500 year-old Church that may see the appointment of an Anglican pope. The Commission chaired by the Archbishop of Ireland, Dr Robin Eames, wasset up last October after a crisis meeting of Anglican Primate occasioned by the ordination of 52 year-old Dr Gene Robinson as Bishop of New Ham pshire Diocese in USA. It had representation from across the globe and comprised of top church ministers, experts on church laws and theologians among them Kenyas Dr Eu nice Mombo. Besides the ordination of a gay priest, the American Anglican affiliate known as Episcopalians also endorsed the blessing of same sex marriages a nd were joined by some churches in Canada. Kenya and several affiliates across the globe severed links with the offending dioceses and threatened to break away if the ordination and marria ges were not revoked. But the pro-gay movement in the Anglican Communion received backing fromSouth Africa notably retired primate Desmond Tutu and his successor arch bishop Njongokulu Ndungane. The Commissions report obtained from its website, rebuked the Episcopalian Church for ordaining Robinson who divorced the mother of his two child ren to live with a fellow man. "By electing and confirming such a candidate in the face of the concerns expressed by the wider Communion, the Episcopal Church (USA) has causeddeep offence to many faithful Anglican Christians both in its own church and in other parts of the Communion," it said. It called on the Episcopal Church headed by Dr Frank Griswold to apologize over the ordination of the gay bishop in a manner that would represent the desire to remain within the Communion It also called on those responsible for Dr Robinson consecration to step down for the healing of the Communion. "They should consider in all conscience whether they should withdraw themselves from representative function in the Anglican Communion in order t o create necessary space to enable the healing of the Communion," On the structures of the Church, the Commission wants the archbishop to b e given powers that would make him the equivalent of a Pope. "He must be free to exercise his role fully in each of the instruments of Unity, the primate Meetings for all archbishops and the Anglican Consul tative Council. The radical proposal will see the establishment of the Council of Advice, an equivalent of the popes cabinet and a liaison officer to represent a ll the affiliate.
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