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Roughly 2,700 conservative U.S. Episcopalians gathered in Dallas in October to ask the Anglican Communion's highest-ranking archbishops to rebuke their church for rejecting historic Christian teaching on homosexuality.

After two days of confrontational, humorous, and confident speeches, these Episcopalians expected the primates (archbishops with national or transnational authority) to issue a stern rebuke.

Instead, the primates issued an ambiguous statement in which both sides found reasons for hope. While reaffirming the church's traditional teaching on sexual morality, the statement calls for a committee to study the Archbishop of Canterbury's role in leading Anglicans.

Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, summoned primates to the October 14–15 meeting even while the Episcopal Church's General Convention was still in session in early August.

"My initial reaction was that it was bureaucratic, diplomatic," conservative Bishop James Stanton of Dallas told CT. "On second reading, and after speaking with some of the primates involved, I'm satisfied with it." Stanton described the statement as a "compassionate call on the Episcopal Church to change its path."

Stanton said he believes orthodox primates from around the world remain committed to decisive action if the Episcopal Church consecrates Robinson.

In 1998, Anglican bishops meeting at the decennial Lambeth Conference described homosexual practice as incompatible with Scripture. Meeting again October 14–15 at Lambeth, the archbishops warned the Episcopal Church in the United States that consecrating an openly noncelibate homosexual bishop would "tear the fabric of our Communion at its deepest level."

Frank Griswold, presiding bishop of the 2.5 million-member Episcopal Church, joined in the unanimous statement of the primates. But he also reiterated his support of Robinson's consecration. Indeed, Griswold presided at Robinson's consecration on November 2.

The Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire, which elected the openly gay Gene Robinson as its next bishop, did not see the statement as posing any obstacles to his consecration.

Conservative leaders, however, emphasized the statement's warnings about the divisive nature of Robinson's consecration. Philip Jenkins, distinguished professor of history and religious studies at Penn State University and author of The Next Christendom, praised the statement.

"I was surprised somewhat that it was so negative toward the American Episcopal Church," he told CT. "It looks more schism-oriented than I first thought."

The statement also warns about similar division caused by blessing homosexual couples. The Diocese of New Westminster in Vancouver, British Columbia, officially sanctions these ceremonies and the Episcopal Church leaves the decision to local bishops.

The primates' statement leaves priests such as Filmore Strunk Jr. of Charlotte, North Carolina, awaiting more developments. "I think it's a half measure on the way to oblivion," Strunk told CT. "It represents a noble attempt to maintain unity in the face of a secularist onslaught that will not be sated short of total victory."

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Christianity Today's earlier coverage of the Anglican Communion's strife includes:

The Gay Bishop's Global Fallout | How each of the 39 provinces in the Anglican Communion have responded to Sunday's consecration. (Nov. 07, 2003)

Translating the Anglican Primates | Interpretations vary widely on what last week's statement means, how forceful it was, and what's next. (Oct. 21, 2003)

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December 2003, Vol. 47, No. 12