presiding bishop

Presiding bishop Frank Griswold (pictured), head of the U.S. Episcopal Church, has expressed concern that the diocese of California could select an openly gay bishop--three of the seven candidates have same-sex partners--in light of the rift created between the denomination and the worldwide Anglican Communion by the consecration of a gay bishop in New Hampshire in 2003.

Bishop William Skylstad (pictured), president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, noting concerns about an upcoming Vatican document that will address whether gays should be ordained, said "witch hunts and gay bashing have no place in the church."

Episcopal Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori was installed as head of the U.S. church less than two years ago, inheriting a mess not of her own making. The global Anglican Communion was in an uproar over the 2003 consecration of the first openly gay Episcopal bishop, V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire.

Pittsburgh's bishop could face discipline if he continues to support efforts to split his diocese from the Episcopal Church, the presiding bishop of the national church warned in a letter. Representatives of the Pittsburgh diocese are set to vote Friday during their annual convention in Johnstown, Pa., on constitutional amendments that would start the process of splitting from the national church. Pittsburgh bishop Robert Duncan is among the leaders of a conservative U.S. movement that believes the Episcopal Church is abandoning the primary authority of Scripture, with biblical teachings on sexuality being the flash point of the debate.

Katharine Jefferts Schori, presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, has asked church members for patience after fellow Anglican leaders demanded the U.S. denomination step back from its support of gays or risk losing its full membership in the world Anglican fellowship.

The Wisconsin representative became one of the highest-profile gay people to date to endorse Sen. Hillary Clinton for president, the same day that Episcopal bishop V. Gene Robinson did the same for Clinton's archrival, Sen. Barack Obama. In this exclusive Advocate interview, Baldwin explains why.

Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams (pictured), struggling to hold together the troubled world Anglican family, urged church leaders gathered Sunday in England not to consecrate another gay bishop, saying the fellowship will be in ''grave peril'' without a moratorium.