Is the Anglican Church headed for a 21st century schism? Apparently yes, if traditionalist evangelicals have their way.  

The controversy stems, most immediately, from the issue of whether gay bishops may be installed in Anglican churches. There has been a furor since Gene Robinson was installed as the ninth Bishop of New Hampshire, the first openly gay bishop to have such an honor, and the more traditional elements of the Anglican Church are threatening to split from the rest of the church. Archbishop Peter Akinola of Nigeria has gone so far as to declare that homosexuality is “an aberration unknown even in animal relationships.”

In stark contrast to Archbishop Peter Akinola,  the 104th Archbishop of Canterbury, the Welshman Dr. Rowan Williams, recently declared to the world’s Anglican churches: “Any words that could make it easier for someone to attack or abuse a homosexual person are words of which we must repent … Do not think repentance is always something others are called to, but acknowledge the failings we all share, sinful and struggling disciples as we are.”

With 70 million baptized Anglicans who belong to 43 autonomous churches across the world having riotous disagreements, we might well witness a 21st century schism within the Anglican Church, and the split will certainly not be an amicable one.

Mimi Hanaoka