Anglican leader urges penalty, after Episcopalians, other Anglicans violate gay moratoria

The spiritual leader of the world’s Anglicans wants to sideline provinces that violate moratoria on ordaining partnered gays and on other contentious activity in the splintering fellowship. The proposal is expected to cost Episcopalians their formal role in shaping Anglican doctrine and in conducting dialogue with other faiths.

Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams said in a May 28 statement that provinces that fail to heed the requests of Anglican bodies cannot be in a position to "represent the communion as a whole." The Episcopal Church, the Anglican province in the U.S., last month consecrated its second openly gay bishop, Los Angeles assistant Bishop Mary Glasspool, who has a female partner.

Two Episcopalians serve on the Anglican-Orthodox Theological Dialogue and one serves on the Inter-Anglican Standing Commission on Unity, Faith and Order, which handles question of church doctrine and authority, according to Anglican and Episcopal news services.

Williams said affected provinces will soon be contacted about the changes.