Orthodox Anglicans to Initiate Talks on Forming 'Anglican Union'

http://www.christianpost.com/article/20070604/27766_Orthodox_Anglicans_to_Initiate_Talks_on_Forming_'Anglican_Union'.htm

[The Christian Post] 4 June 2007--The head of a conservative Anglican network in the United States has invited major breakaway Anglican groups to up the level of their partnership for a united Anglicanism in North America as some predict a split in the Anglican Communion.

Bishop Robert Duncan of Pittsburgh, moderator of the Anglican Communion Network, called for a Sept. 25-28 meeting to initiate discussion of creating an "Anglican Union" among the partners. The creation of the union would be a step forward in forming a "separate ecclesiastical structure (from The Episcopal Church) of the Anglican Communion" in the United States, which Anglican leaders in the Global South had proposed for.

Duncan has planned to hold the meeting after The Episcopal Church – the U.S. wing of Anglicanism – gives its response to the request of the Primates (Anglican leaders) to make an unequivocal pledge not to authorize same-sex blessings and confirm another openly gay bishop. Primates had set a Sept. 30 deadline for The Episcopal Church's response. The request, made in February, was largely prompted by TEC's consecration of its first openly gay bishop in 2003, which widened rifts within the worldwide church body.