WP,pg1: Conservative Northern Virginia Priest Installed as Anglican Bishop

[DeepModem Mom]

Conservative N.Va. Priest Installed as Anglican Bishop
Head of Episcopal Split to Lead Nigerian Offshoot
By Michelle Boorstein
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, May 6, 2007; Page A01

A powerful Nigerian Anglican archbishop defied top church leaders yesterday by coming to Northern Virginia and installing as one of his bishops a local minister who recently broke with the U.S. church after accusing it of being too liberal.

The festive ceremony thrilled those who believe the U.S. church has become too permissive but highlighted divisions that threaten to crack the Anglican Communion.

Archbishop Peter J. Akinola leads a movement that, among other things, believes the Bible is unequivocally opposed to homosexuality and divorced clergy. Hundreds turned out to watch him install Martyn Minns as "missionary bishop" for an outpost that he created for America.

The worshipers, who have left the U.S. wing -- the Episcopal Church -- applauded and waved their hands in prayer as bishops from Canada, England, the United States, Nigeria and Uganda sat on the stage in white-and-red robes.

The installation, held at a 3,500-seat Christian event center next to the Potomac Mills, was high-profile fuel for the debate in the 70 million-member Anglican Communion over the proper reading of Scripture on homosexuality and other issues. The questions have not only roiled the Episcopal Church but also divided other denominations worldwide over the past decade....

***

In the days before yesterday's service, Rowan Williams, archbishop of Canterbury and head of the entire communion, and Katharine Jefferts-Schori, head of the U.S. church, asked Akinola not to oversee Minns's installation....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/05/AR2007050501215.html?nav=most_emailed

[JerseygirlCT]

1. Or more accurately, Nigerian Archbishop formalizes his

break with the Anglican Communion.

He and his cronies threw down their insulting ultimatum -- what? a couple of months ago? TEC was given (how magnanimous) until September 30 to respond.

So Akinola simply ignores his own orchestrated ultimatum and goes ahead anyway-- over the express objections of not only the Presiding Bishop of TEC, but of the Archbishop of Canturbury.

We just need to hope the ABC does what he ought to and actually deals with this. I'm not holding my breath.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

2. Akinola's tune will change...

When the mission money from The Episcopal Church in America goes missing and the Ahmenson/Weyrich money dries up as well.

[JerseygirlCT]

3. Well, I hope that money continues to find its way to his

country, if not to his control.

And it is to be hoped that not only the Ahmanson money, but perhaps himself, dry up soon.

(sorry, shouldn't have said that, huh...)

[TechBear_Seattle]

5. Exactly

If Rowan had any testicles at all, he would convene a special session of the Lambeth Conference (ie all of the primates of the Anglican Communion) and formally denounce Anikole, order him to cease and desist and, if he does not, expel him from the Communion. He is so in violation of the principles of Anglican unity, it is not funny. He wants to be pope; why are the other primates allowing him to have his way?

[JerseygirlCT]

6. I suspect he's being used

by the forces behind IRD. He'll feel mighty while that's useful, then find himself on the outs again once he's served his usefulness to them.

I won't be among those saddened at that, I have to say.

[kwassa]

4. The only fortunate aspect of this is that many conservatives don't like Akinola

or have any desire to turn over power to him, and have difficulty organizing themselves in any cohesive way. Martyn Minns has delusions of grandeur, but he is a one-person movement, really. I can't see many other Episcopals defecting to him in particular.

Rowan Williams again fails to imitate any relationship to real leadership of the Anglican Communion. Akinola is successful because no one says no to him.