Church of England schism over gays

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article4944132.ece

[Times Online] 15 Oct 2008--The schism over gays that has seen two dioceses vote to “leave” the US Episcopal Church is threatening to split the Church of England.

On October 14 parishes were urged to seek alternative oversight from another bishop if their own diocesan bishop expounded “unbiblical” teaching.

Evangelicals at a conference in London were told that the Church of England now consists of “two religions”, one liberal and pro-gay and the other, conservative and strictly biblical.

The Rev Rod Thomas, chairman of Reform, the conservative evangelical grouping that represents dozens of Anglican congregations, told parishes they should go ahead and seek alternative oversight, even if the Church of England fails to “accommodate” this solution through its General Synod.

Without agreement from the Synod of the kind that set up “flying bishops” for traditionalists who opposed women bishops, to seek alternative oversight from a bishop outside the diocese would be tantamount to schism in all but name.