Nigerian
archbishop Peter Akinola, a strong critic of Episcopal
support for gay clergy, said unity in the Anglican
Church can come only when people are obedient to the
word of the Gospel. Akinola's remarks in a sermon in
Wheaton, Ill., Sunday coincided with debate among
Episcopal bishops meeting in New Orleans over how to answer
a request by senior Anglican bishops. The bishops have
asked that the U.S. church not approve an official
prayer service for gay couples and stop consecrating
gay bishops.
Nigerian
archbishop Peter Akinola, a strong critic of Episcopal
support for gay clergy, said unity in the Anglican
Church can come only when people are obedient to the
word of the Gospel.
Akinola's remarks
in a sermon in Wheaton, Ill., Sunday coincided
with debate among Episcopal bishops meeting in New Orleans
over how to answer a request by senior Anglican
bishops. The bishops have asked that the U.S. church
not approve an official prayer service for gay couples
and stop consecrating gay bishops.
Akinola did not
mention the New Orleans meeting or differences in the
Anglican Communion over homosexuality, but said he believes
divisions in the church spring from people straying
from the Gospel as it's written.
''Unity, yes, but
before that, transformation that can only come from the
power of the word of God,'' Akinola said, addressing about
2,000 people at a gathering of churches called the
Midwest Anglican Awakening.
Last week,
Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, the Anglican
spiritual leader, said the goal is to find a compromise with
the U.S. church, which holds a more liberal view of
Scripture than most Anglicans overseas.
Chief Jimmy
Delano, an organizer of Sunday's event on the campus of
Wheaton College, said he did not know whether Akinola had
met with Williams.
Akinola did not
wear the full regalia of his office, opting for a simple
white robe. Delano said that choice was not a statement but
an indication that the weather was warm.
Akinola's
appearance drew about 30 protesters who carried signs
outside the chapel where he spoke.
Protester Gini
Lester, a lesbian and church member, said Akinola is
trying to draw congregations away from the U.S. Episcopal
Church, which is moving toward greater tolerance and
openness toward issues important to gays.
''I don't think
he needs to be preaching hate,'' Lester said.
The Reverend Liz
Steadman, Episcopal chaplain at Northwestern University,
also among the protesters, said the chapel where Akinola
preached is named for her grandfather, Victor Raymond
Edman, a former president of Wheaton College.
''It just made it
even more personal to us,'' said Steadman, who
is in a committed relationship. ''We stand here firm in
our conviction that the Gospel stands for justice and
for love.'' (Karen Hawkins, AP)
Click here to follow The Advocate on Twitter.
Page 1 of 1