Strip Gay Bishop Of Office Church Commission Told 

Gene Robinson must be removed as Bishop of New Hampshire if there is to be peace in the worldwide Anglican Church a commission appointed by the Archbishop of Canterbury has been told.

The Eames Commission was created to seek unity between conservatives and modernists in the faith following the uproar over Robinson's election last year. This week it met in South Carolina where a position paper was presented by Archbishop Drexel Gomez, of the West Indies calling for Robinson's removal.

Gomez told the commission, headed by the Most Reverend Robin Eames, the Archbishop of Armagh in Northern Ireland, that as long as Robinson is allowed to remain as a bishop in the Episcopal Church the threat of a schism will grow.

Gomez, one of the leading conservatives in the Church said that the best remedy would be to annul Robinson's consecration, in effect declaring that it never occurred. 

“Recognition that Canon Robinson was never properly consecrated suggests a possible way forward out of the crisis currently facing the Anglican Communion because of the actions of the Episcopal Church,” he said.

Gomez, and other primates from the various Churches which make up the Anglican faith in Latin America, Africa, and Asia last month called for the expulsion of the Episcopal Church from the Anglican Communion unless the American wing of the Church removes Robinson from office.

“Failure to take this action within an agreed time frame could then be regarded as a sign that the ECUSA no longer regarded itself as part of the Anglican Communion," said Gomez.. "The reasons would be that the Episcopal Church had taken action that it knew would lead to a breaking of communion with other churches of the Communion and had refused to rectify the situation when given the opportunity to do so.”

There is little change the Church in America will remove Robinson voluntarily, and the diocese of New Hampshire remains adamant that Robinson is there to stay. Its Standing Committee responded to the demand by issuing a statement, saying: “This is an issue that the Church has been dealing with for many years and we believe that the Holy Spirit has lead us in the election process and we trust in the Spirit’s leadership as we move to a more authentic communion."

The Rev Hayes Junkin, President of the Standing Committee, said: “We believe the intention underlying the consecration of Gene Robinson was fully in keeping with the sacramental role of a bishop. We believe that his presence as a bishop provides a fuller sign of unity in the Church. We are aware of the pain this is causing and stand ready to speak to anyone about how we can continue to work through this.”

The Eames Commission is to deliver its report to the Archbishop of Canterbury by September 30.