Nigerian Archbishop to Colonize U.S.

From an Associated Press story:

FAIRFAX, Va. – In a direct challenge to the leadership of the U.S. Episcopal Church, an influential Anglican archbishop from Africa is exploring ways to allow American congregations upset over the election of a gay bishop to realign themselves under his jurisdiction.

Archbishop Peter Akinola of Nigeria, who has been sharply critical of the U.S. Episcopal Church’s decision last year to consecrate Bishop V. Gene Robinson in New Hampshire, said Tuesday he feels obliged to provide a spiritual home to Nigerians in America who are leaving the church over the issue.

While Akinola said that is his primary goal, he also said he wanted to offer a home to any Episcopal parish in America that no longer feels it can abide by a U.S. church hierarchy that conservatives see as abandoning a fundamental Christian teaching condemning homosexuality.

This comes on the heels of the Archbishop of Uganda’s reception of three Los Angeles-area Episcopal parishes. The parishes announced their secession from the local diocese because they disapproved of their bishop’s positions. See this round-up story in this past Sunday’s New York Times.