In a May 17 statement issued on behalf of 18 Anglican provinces in Asia, Africa and Latin America, Archbishop Peter Akinola of Nigeria said Episcopalians have "cut themselves adrift" by consenting to the election of openly gay Bishop V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire. "This deliberate disobedience of the revealed will of God in the Holy Scriptures is a flagrant departure from the consensual and clearly communicated mind and will of the Anglican Communion," Akinola said.
The Episcopal Church is the U.S. branch of the Anglican Communion, which includes 38 autonomous churches led by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams.
Akinola urged Williams to give the U.S. church 30 days to "repent" after a special commission led by Irish Archbishop Robin Eames makes its report in October.
If Episcopalians do not revoke Robinson's consecration, penalties should include "the suspension and ultimate expulsion of (the Episcopal Church) from fellowship and membership of the Anglican Communion," Akinola said.
The statement said "similar measures" should also be applied to the Canadian diocese of New Westminster, which voted last year to allow the blessing of same-sex unions.
Akinola convened the primates, or presiding bishops, of the "Global South" on April 15-16 in Nairobi, Kenya. Together, the bishops represent 55 million of the 77 million members of the Anglican Communion.
Most of the Global South primates have already declared themselves in "impaired communion" with the U.S. church and its top leader, Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold. Most have said they do not recognize Robinson as a bishop.
"As primates of the Global South, we are of one mind that these measures are essential to preserve our Communion in true union and to avoid the tragic reallignment which would otherwise be inevitable," they said.
Dan England, communications director for the Episcopal Church, said he could not see how the primates' demands could be acted upon.
"Here, bishops are elected, but in many parts of the world, including England and Africa, bishops are appointed," England told The Washington Times. "If a bishop is appointed, then a bishop can be unappointed. But we don't do things that way."
