Episcopal Church Congregations Appeal to the Head of the Anglican Communion

Six congregations in northeast Florida have appealed directly to the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, regarding the views of their bishop toward the consecration of gay clergy.

The congregations are extremely upset that their leader, Bishop John Howard of the Diocese of Florida, has not spoken out firmly against the consecration of the openly gay Bishop Gene Robinson in New Hampshire, USA in 2003. This issue has brought the worldwide Anglican Communion to the brink of a complete schism.

The head of the Anglican Communion, Dr Williams, has been asked by the congregations to find them a new leader, one that will reflect their beliefs and the traditional Church stance of not allowing homosexual bishops in the Church.

In their letter to the Archbishop of Canterbury, the rectors indicated how their congregations were