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| Anglican communion to restrict US Church over gay marriage | Anglican communion to restrict US Church over gay marriage |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The US Episcopal Church is to be barred from Anglican decision-making bodies over its stance on same-sex marriage and homosexuality, bishops say. | The US Episcopal Church is to be barred from Anglican decision-making bodies over its stance on same-sex marriage and homosexuality, bishops say. |
| It means the Church will be suspended from participating in the life and work of the Anglican communion. | It means the Church will be suspended from participating in the life and work of the Anglican communion. |
| The decision was made by senior Anglican clergy at what was described as a "really tough" meeting, held in Canterbury, to heal Church rifts. | The decision was made by senior Anglican clergy at what was described as a "really tough" meeting, held in Canterbury, to heal Church rifts. |
| Episcopal Presiding Bishop Michael Curry said it "will bring real pain". | Episcopal Presiding Bishop Michael Curry said it "will bring real pain". |
| The decision dates back to the ordination of openly gay Canon Gene Robinson as a bishop of the Episcopal Church's New Hampshire diocese in 2003 - a move that divided the global Anglican communion. | The decision dates back to the ordination of openly gay Canon Gene Robinson as a bishop of the Episcopal Church's New Hampshire diocese in 2003 - a move that divided the global Anglican communion. |
| 'Fundamental departure' | 'Fundamental departure' |
| The meeting in Canterbury, which started on Monday and brings together 39 Anglican primates, was organised by the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Justin Welby, amid ongoing disagreements in the Church over homosexuality and same-sex marriage. | The meeting in Canterbury, which started on Monday and brings together 39 Anglican primates, was organised by the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Justin Welby, amid ongoing disagreements in the Church over homosexuality and same-sex marriage. |
| Before it began, more than 100 senior Anglicans wrote an open letter urging the Church of England to repent for "discriminating" against lesbian and gay Christians. | Before it began, more than 100 senior Anglicans wrote an open letter urging the Church of England to repent for "discriminating" against lesbian and gay Christians. |
| A statement from Anglican leaders in Canterbury acknowledged "deep differences" over the understanding of marriage but said the Episcopal Church's approval of gay marriage was "a fundamental departure from the faith and teaching" of the majority of Anglicans. | A statement from Anglican leaders in Canterbury acknowledged "deep differences" over the understanding of marriage but said the Episcopal Church's approval of gay marriage was "a fundamental departure from the faith and teaching" of the majority of Anglicans. |
| The Church leaders added that the majority of those gathered at the meeting would "reaffirm" the teaching of scripture that "upholds marriage as between a man and a woman". | The Church leaders added that the majority of those gathered at the meeting would "reaffirm" the teaching of scripture that "upholds marriage as between a man and a woman". |
| Archbishop Welby is to appoint a task group to rebuild trust in the Anglican Communion. | Archbishop Welby is to appoint a task group to rebuild trust in the Anglican Communion. |
| Those who sent the letter to the primates ahead of the meeting have expressed "deep hurt" at the result. | Those who sent the letter to the primates ahead of the meeting have expressed "deep hurt" at the result. |
| Analysis | Analysis |
| BBC religious affairs correspondent Caroline Wyatt | BBC religious affairs correspondent Caroline Wyatt |
| This was a meeting that was never going to be easy, and it threatened to break up on several occasions this week. | This was a meeting that was never going to be easy, and it threatened to break up on several occasions this week. |
| The Archbishop of Uganda left early, but the others remained to talk and pray over their differences, and the meeting will continue into Friday. | The Archbishop of Uganda left early, but the others remained to talk and pray over their differences, and the meeting will continue into Friday. |
| Their resolution, however, was leaked on Thursday. | Their resolution, however, was leaked on Thursday. |
| It shows that they have agreed that by recognising same-sex marriage, the Episcopal Church in the US departed fundamentally from the faith and teaching of the Anglican Communion on the doctrine of marriage, causing what they term "deep pain" throughout the communion. | It shows that they have agreed that by recognising same-sex marriage, the Episcopal Church in the US departed fundamentally from the faith and teaching of the Anglican Communion on the doctrine of marriage, causing what they term "deep pain" throughout the communion. |
| The Global Anglican Future Conference (Gafcon), which represents conservative Anglican leaders worldwide, had sought sanctions against the US Episcopal Church, and some members said they would walk out of this week's meeting unless a penalty was applied. | The Global Anglican Future Conference (Gafcon), which represents conservative Anglican leaders worldwide, had sought sanctions against the US Episcopal Church, and some members said they would walk out of this week's meeting unless a penalty was applied. |
| In a statement Gafcon said it was pleased by the outcome but said "this action must not be seen as an end, but as a beginning". | In a statement Gafcon said it was pleased by the outcome but said "this action must not be seen as an end, but as a beginning". |
| But Bishop Curry told the other leaders their vote would bring "real pain" to gays and lesbians and to Episcopalians "committed to following Jesus in the way of love and being a church that lives that love". | But Bishop Curry told the other leaders their vote would bring "real pain" to gays and lesbians and to Episcopalians "committed to following Jesus in the way of love and being a church that lives that love". |
| 'Still committed' | |
| He added he was still committed to the Anglican Church. | He added he was still committed to the Anglican Church. |
| Other gay Christians and supporters of equal marriage said there was "no acknowledgement of the deep pain the Anglican Communion's decisions will cause, nor any concern for the pastoral care of LGBTI Christians." | Other gay Christians and supporters of equal marriage said there was "no acknowledgement of the deep pain the Anglican Communion's decisions will cause, nor any concern for the pastoral care of LGBTI Christians." |
| Anglicans, whose roots are in the missionary work of the Church of England, are the third-largest grouping of Christians in the world, behind Roman Catholics and the Orthodox. |