- EPA
Rev. Gene Robinson, left, the first openly gay Bishop, greets a friend during a vote on his appointment last Tuesday.
ANGLICANS FROM the Province of the West Indies have denounced the appointment of the openly gay Canon Gene Robinson as the next bishop of New Hampshire in the United States as an act incompatible with Biblical teachings and one likely to further divide the worldwide Communion of believers.
Archbishop of the West Indies, the Most Reverend Drexel Gomez, reiterated their overwhelming support of the Lambeth 1998 resolution on homosexual practice which opposes the blessing of same-sex unions.
"No diocesan synod in our province would countenance a gay bishop living in an openly sexual relationship outside of Christian marriage!" said the release in reaction to the confirmation which took place last Tuesday.
Reverend Gomez explained that the decision of the Episcopal Church in the United States (ECUSA) is an assault on traditional biblical principles and that they were in total opposition to the revisionist view of ECUSA.
"We cannot compromise the integrity of our mission to uphold the faith "once delivered to the saints," said the release.
While they wish to remain loyal to the Communion of Anglicans worldwide, said Reverend Gomez, West Indian Anglicans agree that the seriousness of the situation was enough to force them to seek permission to distance themselves from any Province supporting a homosexual lifestyle.
The world-wide Anglican Communion is comprised of 38 independent provinces. ECUSA is the only province within the communion to confer legitimacy on homosexual practice as an authentic form of Christian discipleship.
