Plea for Unity Follows Conflict Over Gay Cleric

Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, the spiritual leader of the fractured Anglican Communion, issued an urgent plea this week calling for a unity that does not have to mean “meaningless unanimity.”

Williams, in his first presidential address as archbishop, spoke to the Church of England’s General Synod meeting in York one week after an openly gay bishop-elect withdrew his nomination when conservatives threatened a revolt.

Williams said the recent controversy over the nomination of the Rev. Jeffrey John as bishop of Reading has reinforced his contention “that there are several different ‘Churches of England’; that they do not communicate with each other very effectively; and that they need to learn how to do this better if they are to fulfill their primary task of witnessing to God’s transforming promise.”

The Episcopal Church, which is the U.S. branch of the communion, will meet later this month to confirm or reject the election of an openly gay priest as the next bishop of New Hampshire.