Columbus, USA - The Episcopal General Convention tried again Tuesday to break an impasse on whether to meet Anglican demands that the U.S. church stop electing gay bishops for now.
If delegates fail to approve some restriction on electing gays to the high-level office before the meeting ends Wednesday, it could hasten a split in the family of Anglican churches, which already is badly divided over the Bible and homosexuality.
Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams has been trying to broker a truce, but some church leaders believe he can only keep those efforts alive if the Americans send a signal that they are willing to compromise.
The Episcopal House of Deputies, comprised of more than 800 lay people and clergy, reconvened Tuesday after failing to vote on the measure the day before.
Legislation must pass both the House of Deputies and House of Bishops. If delegates don't send the legislation to the House of Bishops by the end of business Tuesday, there is almost no chance the idea of a moratorium could be resurrected, church officials said.
"That would be the end of the matter," said Northern Indiana Bishop Edward Little, a member of the committee that drafted the resolution.
The Rev. Tobias Haller, who is a deputy and priest at St. James Fordham in New York City, agreed. "That means it dies," he said.
The critical debate in the Episcopal Church came on a day when another American Protestant denomination, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), planned to decide on whether to allow leeway on the ordination of gay clergy and lay elders and deacons.
Episcopal delegates are considering measures aimed at appeasing Anglicans who are irate about the 2003 consecration of V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire, the first openly gay Episcopal bishop.
The Episcopal Church is the U.S. arm of the 77 million-member Anglican Communion, the fellowship of churches with roots that trace back to the Church of England.
While conservatives are a minority within the American denomination, the majority of overseas Anglican leaders believe the Bible bars gay sex. They have pressured Williams, the communion's spiritual leader, to take some action against Episcopalians if they fail to adhere to that view.
Many Anglican churches have already broken ties with the U.S. church over Robinson's elevation. And if overseas leaders dislike the outcome of this week's meeting, it greatly increases the chances that the association of 38 national churches will break apart.
The situation has been complicated by Sunday's election of Nevada Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori as the first Episcopal presiding bishop — the first woman ever to lead an Anglican province. Only two other Anglican provinces — New Zealand and Canada — have female bishops and many Anglicans believe women should not be ordained.
As presiding bishop, it will fall to Schori to explain the convention votes to world Anglican leaders, including those who consider her ordination invalid. Her efforts to maintain ties will be made all the more difficult because she voted to confirm Robinson, supports blessing same-sex couples and believes gay relationships do not violate Scripture.
"I believe that God welcomes all to his table," Schori said. "All the marginalized are most especially welcome to the table."
On Tuesday, deputies adopted an "expression of regret" on a 563-267 vote for failing to properly consult Anglicans before confirming Robinson and for "the consequences that followed."
That legislation will now go before the bishops for their consideration.