African Anglican Leader Insists ECUSA Repent of Non-Biblical Stance

by Jim Brown
October 12, 2004

(AgapePress) - The Anglican Archbishop of Nigeria says he will help American Episcopal churches upset over the election of a homosexual bishop realign themselves under his jurisdiction.

During a tour of U.S. parishes, Archbishop Peter Akinola charged that the Episcopal Church USA has adopted a non-Christian religion that "says what God calls sin is no longer sin -- a religion that doesn't take scripture seriously." He feels Episcopal Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold has departed from the historic Christian faith by helping to consecrate a homosexual bishop.

The archbishop says Griswold is leading the ECUSA down an errant path "with his theology of inclusiveness, anything goes, there is truth in everything -- that itself challenges the unique truth of the gospel. So that says to me he himself is an advocate of this sin."

According to Akinola, African Anglicans are hoping the Eames Commission, which issues its report next week, will give the ECUSA an ultimatum. Griswold "should be asked to repent within three months -- that is, three months from the date the report is accepted, if the commission accepts our recommendation," the Nigerian cleric says.

Akinola says Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams has approved his plan to establish a Nigerian Diocese in North America in conjunction with a network of conservative Episcopalians. "In his office in London in Lambeth Palace," Akinola notes, "and I said this is what Nigeria is about to do. His only concern was 'Oh, I wish you would do this with the network.' I said yes, exactly. We are doing this with the network. We are not alone."

The Archbishop of Nigeria plans to be in London next week for the release of the Eames Commission report. That commission has been seeking ways to heal the split over homosexuality issues in the Worldwide Anglican Communion.