Episcopal Bishop Robinson not invited to the 2008 Lambeth Conference (May 24, 2006)

Over growing concerns in Anglicanism, the Anglican Archbishop of Canteburry Rowan Williams has not invited the openly homosexual bishop Gene Robinson of the Episcopal Church of the United States America. The conference, held every 10 years, is the major meeting of the Anglican leaders in the Anglican Calendar. In recent decades, there has been a widening gap between the Anglican Church in the United States and Canada, and the Global South, especially over the issue of homosexuality. This culminated in 2003, when Gene Robinson, who lives with his male partner, was promoted to the position of Bishop of New Hampshire by the ECUSA. Despite calls from the Global South to repent and change course, the ECUSA has continued to support homosexual clergy and homosexual unions, vocally denying that homosexual behaviour is sinful. Rowan Williams, acutely aware of the turmoil the issue is causing and potential for lasting schism in the church, has declined to invite Robinson to the important conference. The decision by Williiams to not invite Robinson has been branded "institutional homophobia" by the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement.

Additionally, Williams has not invited Martyn Minns, who heads the breakaway Convocation of Anglicans which is the umbrella organization for churches that have broken away from the ECUSA.

Sources

• BBC - Gay row US Anglicans miss summit

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