A new report from the Anglican Church in London criticizes the Episcopal Church U.S.A. for allowing the consecration of Gene Robinson as Bishop in New Hampshire.
New Hampshire Public Radio's David Darman has more.
The Lambeth Commission Report asks the U.S. Episcopal Church to express regret for going ahead with the consecration of Bishop Gene Robinson.
Bishop Robinson is openly gay, which has antagonized some conservative Church leaders across the world.
Dr. Ian Douglas is a professor at the Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
He says the report reminds Episcopal leaders that they acted without considering the consequences of their actions.
it calls for an expression of regret that we did not by and large take into consideration the realities of the different contexts of the churches of the Anglican Communion.
The report says an expression of regret would show the American church wants to stay within the international association of churches, known as the Anglican Communion.
David Jones is rector of St Paul's Church in Concord, and is a close advisor to Bishop Robinson.
He says he believes Robinson's Consecration was the product of divine will, but knows that view is not universal.
ever since this decision was taken, i think everybody has regretted that its caused division and pain. i mean, i'm very enthusiastic about the ministry of our bishop but it breaks my heart to see some people at St. Paul's who can't accept who are hurting by it.
The Commission asks American and Canadian churches to refrain from performing same sex unions.
And it asks the churches to effect a moratorium on the election of bishops who live in same gender unions.
Despite these invitations to curb same sex ceremonies in Episcopal churches, the report is not critical of Bishop Robinson's ministry, or his living arrangements.
Charles Peppler directs the New England chapter of the American Anglican Council.
He says the Lambeth Commission should have been tougher on Bishop Robinson.
as anglicans, nobody wants to twist anybody else's arm. but there is a growing voice that he at some point needs to see either i'm right and the rest of the world is wrong, or i need to listen to, to correction.
The commission's report also came up short for others who find fault with Gene Robinson's consecration as Bishop.
Lisa Ball of Rochester left her parish when Robinson was elevated.
She says the Lambeth Commission can't do what needs to be done to restore her faith in the church.
i mean there's nothing in writing that says what to do with a bishop that's already been consecrated. that's the whole problem. he would have to resign and step down himself because there's nothing in writing actually saying they can get rid of him.
Bishop Robinson has indicated he won't comment on the report until he's had time to read it and reflect on it.
His supporters say he has no plans to step down.
In the meantime, the Bishop's supporters hope they can work something out with dissenting bishops around the world.
Rector David Jones says he is aware Bishop Robinson's ascension could cause a permanent rift between conservative churches and the Episcopal Church in America.
Still, Jones says he's hopes the model that he's used to deal with dissension in Concord can work in other places.
and we've been successful in most cases, not all in making the people who do not feel comfortable with this know that they are welcome here. that there positions is honored, that they are not judged, marginalized or excluded. and i guess i don't see why we can't do that in the larger context if it can be done in the local parish.
The Lambeth Commission Report also recommended that the 38 national churches in the Anglican Communion sign a covenant to govern relationships among them.
Its a device the commission proposes to keep the Communion together.
