Statement by the Rt Rev Claude E Payne, Bishop of Texas on the consecration of two Episcopal priests in Singapore

I regret the recent actions in Singapore because, instead of encouraging Christian community, it further magnifies a situation in which, once again, leaders have acted independently. This is not a solution. We are a worldwide community and we need to use our diversity as our strength. The consecration of two American priests in Singapore on Saturday is, I believe, a reaction by conservatives who are frustrated by the continued lack of due process in gaining consensus before decisions are made.

For years, the Episcopal Church has struggled with problems of leadership. A number of bishops have acted in their respective dioceses on a basis of individual conscience without first having obtained a degree of consensus or without canonical authority.

For instance, there are some bishops who refuse to ordain women even though the Episcopal Church has decided, canonically, to do so. At the same time there have been some bishops who have ordained avowed practicing homosexuals which the Episcopal Church, as a whole, has not sanctioned.

Conflict among Episcopal bishops has contributed to a similar struggle taking place in the world-wide Anglican Communion and came to the forefront in 1998 at the Lambeth Conference, a consultative gathering of bishops from around the world which takes place every 10 years.

Fortunately, in the Diocese of Texas, this internal struggle by the Church's leaders is not holding back the enormous energy for the mission of the church that we enjoy at a local level. In areas where the focus is on mission, there is continued expansion and growth.