c. 1997 Religion News Service

RICHMOND, Va. _ In a speech clearly meant to send a signal to the Episcopal Church, the 2.5 million-member mainline denomination that is badly divided over sexuality issues, Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey called on church members to revive a key Anglican principle _ tolerance.

Carey, spiritual leader of the world’s 70 million Anglicans, of which the Episcopal Church is a part, told the annual council of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia on Friday (Jan. 31) that Anglicans are”a people who live with diversity and differences.” In recent years, the denomination has been involved in a bitter debate over the ordination of gays and lesbians to the priesthood and whether non-celibate lifestyles can be legitimate for priests and candidates for the priesthood.

Additionally, the church’s 1976 decision to admit women to the priesthood continues to fester in some dioceses.

Dressed in simple, plain vestments, Carey, who is in the United States on a sabbatical leave, told the council’s opening Holy Communion service in Richmond:”Let us never be among those who separate from other Christians because of our disagreements with them over matters to do with discipline or doctrine.” In his sermon, Carey told delegates that people can become tolerant by the experience of living with diversity, embracing their individual beliefs, and serving others.”The moment the church forgets to serve the world and to witness to the love of God where people are is the moment when we fail to be the church of Jesus Christ,”he said.

While Carey never directly addressed the division over sexuality issues, his comments on toleration appeared directed at the feuding factions in the denomination.

Underlining the Episcopal strife are:

_ Actions by a church court and by a panel of bishops that refused to impose disciplinary action on two separate ordinations of practicing homosexuals, leaving the issue in the hands of this year’s ruling General Convention, the church’s highest decision-making body.

_ The dismissal by Presiding Bishop Edmond Browning of a complaint against a Pennsylvania bishop for ordaining a practicing gay.

_ A complaint against Bishop Frank H. Vest Jr. of the Diocese of Southern Virginia in which a parish and two priests charged Vest, a liberal, with refusing to approve the election of a traditionalist priest opposed to the ordination of women.

Carey, however, favors women’s ordination, a position that also is dividing his Church of England between supporters and those who claim it further widens the gap with the Roman Catholic Church, which adamantly opposes women’s ordination.

The archbishop told the Virginians, who are celebrating the 20th anniversary of women’s ordination in the diocese,”I, too, rejoice in that. How we thank God for the dedicated ministry of women in the priesthood and the way that the gifts of women are being used increasingly in so many ways now throughout Anglicanism.” Despite his church’s approval of women’s ordination, Carey is nevertheless pursuing ecumenical relations with Roman Catholicism. He met with Pope John Paul II in early December and, while neither leader backtracked on his position, each left the door open to continued talks toward reunification.

Meanwhile, the Virginia diocese _ noted for its support of women priests _ is still struggling over the issue of gays and lesbians.

The annual council faced seemingly conflicting suggestions from churches. One proposal asked for development of rituals that bless couples in committed same-sex relationships. Another demanded that priests abstain from sexual relations outside marriage.

As a compromise, the council skirted the issue and called on diocesan Bishop Peter J. Lee to establish forums for more prayer and discussion.

In urging the Episcopalians to unite in their diversity, the archbishop suggested they look beyond differences and work to heal the spiritual and physical needs of the world.”That is an awe-inspiring challenge. … It is little wonder that we often try to replace it by lesser goals,”he added.”If our faith is not about radical and costly transformation, it falls a long way short of the good news that Jesus Christ came to bring. We are not here merely to find new ways of filling our churches or to invent ingenious new strategies for fund raising. We are here as part of God’s mission to transform his creation,”Carey said.

He said a sobering example of redemptive need unfolded the night before in Richmond when the son of the assistant rector of the church in which the council gathered was murdered.

James E. Knight, 21, the son of the Rev. and Mrs. David Knight, was gunned down in a robbery at the family restaurant where he worked earning money for college. Carey said,”The death of young Jamie is a reminder to us of the sin-soaked world in which we live.”

MJP END BRIGGS