Archbishop warns over gay bishop

The Archbishop of Canterbury warned of difficult days ahead for the Anglican Church today, after its first openly gay bishop was elected in America.

Amid fears of a world-wide rift forming in the church, Dr Rowan Williams said it would be "vital" to listen to those gravely concerned that Canon Gene Robinson is to be the next Bishop of New Hampshire.

But he warned against making snap decisions about the appointment, which was bound to have a "significant" impact on the 80 million-strong global Anglican Communion.

Canon Robinson, who has lived with his male partner for 13 years, was confirmed as the next Bishop of New Hampshire by members of the Episcopalian House of Bishops, hours after he was cleared of sexual misconduct accusations.

Bishop Robert Duncan of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, who spoke for those opposed to the appointment, said he felt a "grief too deep for words" at the vote.

He said: "This body has denied the plain teaching of Scripture and the moral consensus of the Church throughout the ages."

He called on Dr Williams and the primates of the world-wide Anglican Communion, to "intervene in the pastoral emergency that has overtaken us".

But Dr Williams urged caution, saying it was too early to tell exactly what impact the result would have.

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