Less than a week
after the leader of the Anglican Church in London
announced plans to expel the U.S. Episcopal Church over its
support for an openly gay bishop, the diocese of
Newark, N.J., named openly gay canon Michael Barlowe
as one of four candidates for a bishop post. The move
also comes about a week after the Episcopal Church agreed to
"exercise restraint" in consecrating gay bishops after a
furious row sparked by the 2003 appointment of V. Gene
Robinson as bishop of New Hampshire.
According to a
report from the BBC, the traditionalist majority within
the Anglican Church has been calling for stricter measures
against the ordination of gay bishops. BBC religious
affairs correspondent Robert Pigott said Canon
Barlowe's nomination could barely have come at a more
sensitive moment.
The committee
that selected Barlowe acknowledged that the convention's
resolution presented a challenge but said it avoided
eliminating any suitable candidates because of their
sexual orientation. An election will take place in
September. (The Advocate)