Anglican leaders censure Episcopal Church

The Anglican Communion’s worldwide leaders, finishing up four days of heated discussions in mid-January, sought to project a sense of unity despite a move to exclude the Episcopal Church from key policy decisions as a result of the American province’s acceptance of same-sex marriage.

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, leader of the global body, stressed that the communion had chosen to remain together, albeit effectively as a house divided.

“The decision that we would walk together was unanimous,” Welby said, adding that any meeting of leaders of a communion of 85 million members in 165 countries and 38 provinces “is bound to give confused messages.”