Episcopalians vow 'restraint' in confirming gay bishops to avert Anglican split

Even the fiercest critics of the U.S. Episcopal Church's liberal drift say it's too soon to know whether the bishops' latest pledge to "exercise restraint" in approving another gay bishop will go far enough to help prevent an Anglican schism.

"It will take months and years to really see," said Bishop Martyn Minns, who leads a conservative network of breakaway Episcopal parishes.

The 77-million-member fellowship has been splintering since 2003, when Episcopalians consecrated the first openly gay bishop, V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire. The Episcopal Church is the Anglican body in the United States.

Episcopal bishops released their pledge to "exercise restraint" Tuesday in the final moments of a six-day meeting - and as the decades-long debate over interpreting the Bible threatens to shatter the worldwide Anglican communion. Read more

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