SW News: During the recently concluded Lambeth Conference that brought together Anglican bishops from around the world, the issue of homosexual marriage left prelates deeply divided. The attempt of The Most Rev. Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the ceremonial head of the Anglican Communion, to reiterate the Church’s opposition to such marriages was vehemently opposed by a large number of bishops. Hosted once in 10 years, the Conference was held in Britain’s Essex from July 26 to August 8.

Stiff opposition from several bishops forced the archbishop to stall his move. The ban on gay marriage was upheld by the conservative prelates belonging to the Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches (GSFA). It is a global community of Anglican dioceses which are orthodox when it comes to faith matters.

Things took a turn for the worse when the news of Archbishop Welby’s meeting with GSFA members was leaked. Apparently, he had volunteered to pen a letter supporting the traditional view of marriage and morals. It was also decided to have a vote on the matter. But the progressive prelates took up arms and there was pandemonium. They showed their protest by remaining seated and refusing to receive communion during the Eucharist. Eventually, the plan to reaffirm Church doctrine was scrapped.

This move upset members of the GSFA such as South Sudan Primate Rev. Justin Badi. “Today, in Canterbury, we may be gathered together, but we most certainly cannot walk together until Provinces which have gone against Scripture and the will of the consensus of the bishops repent and return to orthodoxy,” he said. The prelate also bemoaned that often their voices are not listened to.

Although the Canterbury Archbishop is the first among equals in the Anglican Communion, he has very limited administrative powers unlike the head of the Roman Catholic Church. The Anglican Communion, which has member Churches around the world, has been plagued with divisions and controversies over hot-button issues such as gay relationships, and the ordination of women among others. The Communion had its annus horribilis in 2003 when the Episcopal Church in New York consecrated its first openly gay bishop Gene Robinson. Such scandalous incidents have accelerated the flow of Anglicans, both laity and clergy, to the Roman Catholic faith. Last year itself, four Anglian bishops embraced Catholicism.