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In the hallways of the Columbus Convention Center, Integrity members called the vote a response to fear and conservatives said the resolution was an inadequate response to the Windsor Report. Unlike previous iterations of the resolution, this one made no mention of blessing rites or other unspecified acts of pastoral care for gay and lesbian Episcopalians. Nor did it pretend to declare a moratorium on such rites, as requested by Windsor.

Conservatives also pointed out that the Rev. Canon Barry Beisner, whom the General Convention approved as the next Bishop of Northern California, could not serve as a priest in some U.S. dioceses because of his two divorces and three marriages.

Both Presiding Bishop Griswold and member bishops of the Anglican Communion Network mentioned recent phone conversations with the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Some Network bishops issued a statement that calls on the Archbishop of Canterbury and his fellow primates to intervene in the Episcopal Church's divisions. Nigerian archbishop Peter Akinola, speaking on behalf of the Council of Anglican Provinces of Africa, said Thursday that he and his fellow African primates were "saddened … that you are unable to embrace the essential recommendations of the Windsor Report and the 2005 Primates Communiqué necessary for the healing of our divisions."

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Previous coverage of the General Convention includes:

General Convention Brushes Against Its Deadline | Conservatives, liberals can't agree on response to the Windsor Report. (June 21, 2006)

Conservatives Stunned by Bishop's Election | The new church leader supports same-sex marriages, vows to bend over backwards for those she disagrees with. (June 20, 2006)

Episcopalians Elect Female Nevada Bishop as Top Leader | Conservatives see election as confirmation of church's 'revisionist theology,' while one diocese appeals for alternative oversight. (June 19, 2006)

Gays in the Church Debated | Conservatives press Episcopal convention to repent of gay bishop's consecration. (June 16, 2006)

Weblog is linking to ongoing mainstream coverage of the convention.

Our full-coverage of the division in the Anglican Communion is collected on our site.

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June (Web-only) 2006, Vol. 50