Archbishop of Canterbury Warns Episcopalians Confirming Lesbian as Assistant Bishop Will Split Church

On Sunday, December 6, 2009, the spiritual leader of the Anglican Communion, Archbishop Rowan Williams -- also known as the Archbishop of Canterbury -- strongly and swiftly warned Episcopalians that confirming the Rev. Mary Glasspool -- a lesbian -- as assistant bishop of Los Angeles "will have very important implications."

Williams lacks the authority of a pope to summarily excommunicate churches or members that stray from the fold, but he said that he would significantly reduce the Episcopal Church's role in the communion.

Archbishop Peter Jensen of Sydney, Australia said that Glasspool's election gives Williams "every reason to dissociate the Episcopal Church" from the Anglican Church of North America, as the legitimate U.S. branch of Anglicanism.

The threats from Williams and other Anglican leaders have been steadily rising in intensity ever since Episcopalians elected V. Gene Robinson -- an openly gay priest -- as bishop of New Hampshire three years ago.