Archbishop Robin Eames, who is chairman of the world-wide Anglican Communion's international commission on difference, has appealed to fellow primates not to react precipitously following the consecration of Bishop Gene Robinson in the US on Sunday.
The primate of All-Ireland spoke as bishops in Africa, Australia, and New Zealand reacted negatively to the consecration of the first openly gay bishop in the Communion.
Speaking to The Irish Times yesterday, Archbishop Eames appealed to them to await publication of the international commission's guidelines next year.
He said the commission would not be making judgements on human sexuality, but would be looking at the Communion's structures in the light of differences on this and other issues.
It was set up last week following a decision by Anglican primates at a meeting in London last month. Archbishop Eames said that though the commission would not sit formally until the New Year, a lot of preparatory work had already been done.
For the Church of Ireland the consecration of Bishop Robinson focused attention on its relationship with the Episcopal Church of the USA, he said. He did not see the Church of Ireland "going to the extremes of breaking communion" with that church, but there were "honest differences" among Irish bishops on the consecration of Bishop Robinson. He appealed that differences be met with "charity, compassion, and understanding," and repeated a plea from his address to the Armagh diocesan synod on October 28th. "There should be no place in the church for a lack of genuine compassion and kindness to each other. Let that be remembered when we feel strongly about something," he said then.
