Pittsburgh, USA - During a rally of U.S. conservatives, the head of the Anglican Church of Nigeria announced formation of a "covenant union" with the Reformed Episcopal Church and Anglican Province of America, two small conservative denominations that broke from the Episcopal Church.
It was the latest instance of conservative Anglicans overseas — at odds with the Episcopal Church over gay and lesbian issues — forming ties with former Episcopalians within the United States.
Nigeria's Archbishop Peter Akinola is head of the second-largest branch of the international Anglican Communion but the two denominations it allied with are not recognized by the Anglican spiritual leader, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams.
The accord pledges cooperation between the Nigerians and Americans in mission work and in the sharing of bishops and priests. The three churches said they are committed to belief "based on the irrevocable Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the final authority for faith and life."
In September, the Nigerian church also authorized a Convocation for Anglicans in North America to provide bishops and pastoral care for people who are "alienated by the actions of" the Episcopal Church. Akinola said bishops to lead this convocation will be assigned shortly.
In a related development, the 150-member South Riding (Va.) Church became the first parish to quit the Diocese of Virginia, the largest in the Episcopal Church, over the consecration an openly gay bishop in New Hampshire two years ago.
That bishop, Gene Robinson, said on a trip to Sweden that the issue of unity among Anglicans worldwide is "really being raised by those who are saying we can't stay in a church with a province that would raise up gay and lesbian people" for ordination.