AP News, February 18th, 2007
The spiritual leader of the Anglican Communion on Sunday called for bishops to feel humility before God, as a fierce debate over homosexuality and scripture threatens to break apart the Christian fellowship.
Leaders of the world's 77 million Anglicans, in Tanzania for a closed conference that ends Monday, traveled by boat from the mainland for a service at Zanzibar's Christ Cathedral in this predominantly Muslim archipelago on the Indian Ocean.
"There is one thing that a bishop should say to another bishop," Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams told the packed Anglican cathedral, as dozens of others listened outside under white tents. "That I am a great sinner and that Christ is a great savior."
The worldwide Anglican Communion is divided over ordaining gays and blessing same-sex unions, which reached a crisis in 2003 when the Episcopal Church _ the American wing of the fellowship _ consecrated its first gay bishop.
The problems mounted last year with the consecration of Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, the first female leader of the U.S. church.
On Friday, seven conservative Anglican archbishops, led by Peter Akinola of Nigeria, refused to take communion with Jefferts Schori in protest over her pro-gay stance. Akinola did not attend Sunday's service; the others involved in the boycott did.
Rwanda's archbishop was seen refusing to take communion Sunday, but it was unclear what the others did because all archbishops remained at their seats to receive communion. Several of the conservative archbishops refused to comment as they left the cathedral.
Jefferts Schori also would not comment.
Before Sunday's Eucharist, Williams stressed the importance of taking Holy Communion, saying: "Jesus tells us to do this in memory of him. We are to remember who he is."
Conservative Anglicans have formed a rival network in the United States, under Akinola's leadership. Africa is home to half the world's Anglicans and is dominated by conservative leaders.
Many conservative Anglicans believe a liberal trend could cost the fellowship significant numbers of converts _ particularly in Africa, where competition for souls is fierce.
Across Africa, with a population of about 900 million people, Islam and Christianity are both estimated to have about 400 million followers, with animist religions making up most of the remainder. And as animist ranks dwindle, Muslims and Christians are increasingly competing for converts.
On Sunday, the Muslim call to prayer was heard outside during lulls in the Christian hymns.
Supporters of ordaining gays believe the Bible's social justice teachings take precedence over its view on sexuality. However, many Anglicans outside the United States believe gay relationships are sinful, and they are distancing themselves from the U.S. church.
There is no formal structure for expulsion from the Anglican Communion. Doctrine is now based on general Christian tradition and gives great latitude on how it is celebrated.
Anglican leaders are considering the idea of an Anglican Covenant, which would for the first time set specific ground rules for membership.
The Anglican Communion is the world's third-largest Christian body behind the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox churches.
Struggles over gay relationships that also have gripped Roman Catholics, Lutherans and others.
Williams, who lacks any direct authority to force a compromise, urged Christians to see and understand others' suffering as Zanzibar commemorates the 100th anniversary of the last sale of a slave here and the 200th anniversary of the end of slavery in the British empire.
Sunday's service was held in Christ Church, which was built in 1874 over Zanzibar's biggest slave market and has an altar that stands over an old whipping post.
"It is so easy," Williams said, "to pretend that those dark and unacceptable parts of our history do not exist."
___
On the Net:
The Episcopal Church: http://www.episcopalchurch.org
