BRITAIN: The Anglican Church's Lambeth Commission, set up following the consecration of Canon Gene Robinson, a gay man, as Bishop of New Hampshire in the US last year, has expressed sadness at the use of "strident language" in the debate taking place in the worldwide Communion on issues of openly gay clergy and same sex unions. Patsy McGarry, Religious Affairs Correspondent, reports
Following its first full plenary meeting yesterday at St George's House, Windsor under the chairmanship of Archbishop Robin Eames, Primate of all Ireland, it said in a statement that it was "saddened that tensions within the Communion, exacerbated by the use of strident language, have continued to rise in recent months".
It continued: "The Commission requests all members of the Anglican Communion to refrain from any precipitate action, or legal proceedings, which would further harm 'the bonds of communion' in the period whilst it completes its work.
"Mission and ministry, including prayer for unity, remain the priorities."
It also said that members of the Commission, who are to report to the Archbishop of Canterbury next September, were "united in their commitment to preserving the unity of the Anglican Communion, and to finding a way forward".
Yesterday's meeting set up working groups to study and reflect on five topics.
These are issues of process in the Anglican Communion, the nature and purposes of communion, the obligations of communion, authority, and the role of the instruments of unity in preserving fellowship.
Last week it heard presentations from theologians including Dr Mary Tanner, former Moderator of the Faith and Order Commission of the World Council of Churches. It has received submissions from around the world.