London, England - The Anglican Church faced a fresh crisis yesterday after the diocese of California included a homosexual man and a lesbian in a five-strong shortlist to become its next bishop.
The move will delight liberals but dismay the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, who has backed calls for a moratorium on the election of gay bishops.
The two are the Very Rev Robert Taylor, the dean of St Mark's Cathedral in Seattle, and the Rev Bonnie Taylor, the rector of All Saints church, Chicago.
If either is elected, he or she would follow in the steps of Gene Robinson, whose consecration as Bishop of New Hampshire in 2003 has brought the Church to the brink of schism. The election would have to be confirmed by the General Convention of the Episcopal Church in June.
It is likely the liberal-dominated convention would do so, triggering the most explosive crisis in Anglican history.
But observers pointed out that California may elect a less divisive choice now that its shortlist has displayed the diocese's radical credentials.