MOSCOW — The Russian Orthodox Church announced Nov. 17 that it is suspending ties with the U.S. Episcopal Church over its consecration of an openly homosexual bishop, saying that homosexuality is a sin and that it “cannot condone the perversion of human nature.”
The Russian Orthodox Church expressed disappointment in the Episcopal Church’s departure from biblical teaching and historic Christianity.
The Russian Orthodox Church, which is dominant in Russia and has congregations in other former Soviet republics, also criticized the Episcopal Church USA over a vote allowing local dioceses to continue deciding for themselves about holding blessing ceremonies for same-sex couples.
The Russian Orthodox Church said it had enjoyed a friendly relationship with the Episcopal Church in the United States for nearly 200 years. The two churches even joined forces in the 1990s, creating a Joint Coordinating Committee. The Russian Orthodox Church said that work was being halted because of Robinson’s consecration.
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