In Wales, Clergy meet to discuss gay issue

The Archbishop of Wales Dr Barry Morgan has attacked a draft proposal aimed at reuniting the Anglican church, arguing that it could lead to exclusion.

Speaking at a governing body meeting of the Church in Wales in Lampeter, Dr Morgan said he could not endorse the proposal, also known as a covenant.

In its present form, the draft would ban the ordination of gay priests.

The covenant was drawn up by Anglican leaders in the wake of the appointment of a gay American bishop in 2003.

The ordination of Gene Robinson as Bishop of New Hampshire marked the start of divisions in the Anglican church.

Some Anglicans argue that homosexuality is contrary to scripture while others have accepted it because the understanding of human sexuality has changed.

Critics also fear that endorsing the covenant will limit the diversity of the church.

The covenant aims to commit the Anglican Communion's separate churches across 38 provinces worldwide to procedures for solving disputes and bring them back into agreement.

In his speech to around 175 members of the Church in Wales, Dr Morgan said that while he supported the principle of an Anglican covenant, he feared the draft would lead to one voice on controversial issues, such as homosexuality, which members would have to sign up to or leave.

Clergy meet to discuss gay issue
BBC News, UK