Navasota, Texas — Episcopal bishops have brushed off an attempt to grant overseas Anglicans a role in governing the U.S. Episcopal Church, saying such a move would be “injurious” and could lead to a permanent division of the U.S. church. The decision came during their annual spring retreat in Navasota, Texas, March 20.
The bishops were responding to demands from Anglican leaders that they adopt new structures to oversee a small, but vocal, conservative minority in the 2.3-million member Episcopal Church. The Anglican primates, or top bishops, also told the U.S. church to enact promises to cease consecrating gay bishops and stop blessing same-sex unions by Sept. 30 or face “consequences.”
The bishops will not address those requests until their next meeting in September, Episcopal Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori said at a press conference March 21.
Though each of the 38 regional churches in the global Anglican Communion is autonomous, the primates proposed a plan in February to inject a new “primatial vicar” and “pastoral council” into the Episcopal Church to oversee dissenting conservatives. Under the Anglican plan, three of the five members of the council would be appointed by non-U.S. clergy.
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