African archbishop suggests Episcopal realignment

A powerful Anglican archbishop is exploring ways to allow American Episcopal churches upset over the election of New Hampshire's gay bishop to realign themselves under his jurisdiction. Archbishop Peter Akinola of Nigeria, who has been sharply critical of the U.S. Episcopal Church's decision last year to confirm V. Gene Robinson, said Tuesday he feels obliged to provide a spiritual home to Nigerians in America who are leaving the church over the issue. While Akinola said that is his primary goal, he also said he wanted to offer a home to any Episcopal parish in America that no longer feels it can abide by a U.S. church hierarchy that, he says, has abandoned a fundamental Christian teaching. The U.S. Episcopal Church "is creating a new religion in which God almighty has declared a sin is no longer a sin," Akinola said at a press conference at Truro Episcopal Church in Fairfax, Va., a parish that has withdrawn financial support from the Episcopal diocese of Virginia in protest over Robinson's election. "We cannot go along with that kind of religion." The Episcopal Church is the U.S. branch of the 77 million-member Anglican Communion, led by the archbishop of Canterbury. Akinola, as the spiritual leader of 17 million Nigerian Anglicans, is highly influential in the communion and has previously warned that Robinson's election could split the body. Akinola said his U.S. trip to explore a possible realignment was endorsed by Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams. Canon James Rosenthal, a London spokesman for the Anglican Communion, said Tuesday that he had no information about discussions Akinola and the archbishop of Canterbury may have had on the issue. It's possible that scores of Episcopal parishes could be seeking a new home. Seven of the 107 Episcopal dioceses in the United States, plus about 70 individual congregations, have joined the Network of Anglican Communion Dioceses and Parishes, which conservatives formed as a "church within a church" in response to the theological divide. Akinola's visit to the United States comes just weeks before the release of a long-awaited commission report that will recommend what course the Anglican Communion should take in response to the Episcopal Church's actions.