Nigerian Anglican Bishop Threatens Schism Over Homosexual Agenda

CANTERBURY, June 20, 2003 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The worldwide Anglican Communion’s drift toward total endorsement of homosexuality has a new and powerful critic. Archbishop Peter Akinola, leader of the 17.5 million Anglicans of Nigeria, warned this week that he will enter formal schism if the British government (which appoints all Church of England bishops) makes Canon Jeffrey John, a flagrant homosexual who claims to be in a life-long same-sex relationship, the suffragan bishop of Reading.  The threat is serious because it is believed that a dozen other churches in developing countries would follow Nigeria’s lead into schism from the Anglican communion. Most of the world’s Anglicans live in developing countries.  Archbishop Akinola told BBC radio: “We claim we are Bible-loving Christians. We cannot be seen to be doing things clearly outside the boundaries allowable in the Bible. This is only the beginning. We would sever relationships with anybody, anywhere… anyone who strays over the boundaries we are out with them. It is as simple as that.”  International media have noted that the Canadian diocese of Vancouver has been in the forefront in moving to bless homosexual marriages.  For coverage in The Guardian:  https://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,981217,00.html   For CNSNews coverage:  https://www.cnsnews.com/ViewForeignBureaus.asp?Page=%5CForeignBureaus%5Carchive%5C200306%5CFOR20030619c.html