Moratorium responds to crisis on gay prelate

Episcopal bishops have imposed a one-year ban on approving new bishops, saying ''extraordinary action" was needed to ease the crisis in world Anglicanism after the Diocese of New Hampshire elected an openly gay priest as its leader.
During a six-day retreat outside Houston, the bishops also promised not to authorize public rites for blessing same-sex couples for at least a year. The wording of the pledge left open the possibility that individual clergy could hold such ceremonies in private.
Episcopal leaders are striving to repair badly frayed ties with Anglican leaders over the November 2003 consecration of ("Rev." Deleted by editor) V. Gene Robinson, bishop of New Hampshire, who lives with his longtime male partner. The Episcopal Church is the US province of the 77-million-member Anglican Communion.
Presiding Bishop Frank T. Griswold, head of the 2.3-million-member Episcopal Church, said in an interview yesterday that church leaders approved the broader moratorium on new bishops because they did not want ''our gay brothers and lesbian sisters demeaned."
Susan Russell ("Rev." Deleted by editor) , president of Integrity, an advocacy group for gay Episcopalians, said it was ''hugely positive" that the moratorium applied to all candidates for bishop, not just gays. Still, she said the actions of church leaders sent a mixed signal to gays and lesbians that ''the Episcopal Church welcomes you, sort of."