Editing Anglican Communion (section)

===Same-sex unions and LGBT clergy===
More recently, disagreements over homosexuality have strained the unity of the communion as well as its relationships with other Christian denominations, leading to another round of withdrawals from the Anglican Communion.{{sfn|Brittain|McKinnon|2011}} Some churches were founded outside the Anglican Communion in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, largely in opposition to the ordination of openly homosexual bishops and other clergy and are usually referred to as belonging to the [[Anglican realignment]] movement, or else as "orthodox" Anglicans.{{sfn|Brittain|McKinnon|2011}} These disagreements were especially noted when The [[Episcopal Church (United States)|Episcopal Church (US)]] consecrated an openly gay bishop in a same-sex relationship, [[Gene Robinson]], in 2003, which led some Episcopalians to defect and found the [[Anglican Church in North America]] (ACNA); then, the debate reignited when the Church of England agreed to allow clergy to enter into same-sex [[civil partnerships]], as long as they remained celibate, in 2005.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/beds/bucks/herts/5236132.stm|title=BBC NEWS {{!}} UK {{!}} England {{!}} Beds/Bucks/Herts {{!}} Gay cleric's 'wedding' to partner|website=news.bbc.co.uk|access-date=21 June 2017|date=August 2006|archive-date=15 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230115163624/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/beds/bucks/herts/5236132.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Church of Nigeria]] opposed the Episcopal Church's decision as well as the Church of England's approval for celibate civil partnerships.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.christiantoday.com/article/revd.akinolas.response.to.church.of.england.civil.partnerships.stance/3642.htm|title=Revd Akinola's Response to Church of England Civil Partnerships Stance {{!}} Christian News on Christian Today|website=www.christiantoday.com|date=8 August 2005 |language=en|access-date=21 June 2017|archive-date=15 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230115163620/https://www.christiantoday.com/article/revd.akinolas.response.to.church.of.england.civil.partnerships.stance/3642.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

According to the BBC, "The more liberal provinces that are open to changing Church doctrine on marriage in order to allow for same-sex unions include [[Anglican Episcopal Church of Brazil|Brazil]], [[Anglican Church of Canada|Canada]], [[Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia|New Zealand]], [[Scottish Episcopal Church|Scotland]], [[Church of South India|South India]], [[Anglican Church of Southern Africa|South Africa]], the [[Episcopal Church (United States)|US]] and [[Church in Wales|Wales]]".<ref>{{cite news|title=Church split over homosexuality would be a failure – Welby|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-35278124|publisher=BBC|access-date=11 April 2016|work=BBC News|date=11 January 2016|archive-date=21 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221143053/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-35278124|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2023, the Church of England announced that it will authorise "prayers of thanksgiving, dedication and for God's blessing for same-sex couples".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Draft prayers of thanksgiving, dedication and for God's blessing for same-sex couples published |url=https://www.churchofengland.org/media-and-news/press-releases/draft-prayers-thanksgiving-dedication-and-gods-blessing-same-sex |access-date=21 January 2023 |website=The Church of England |date=20 January 2023 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Church of England says no to gay marriage but Archbishop of Canterbury welcomes blessings for same-sex couples in historic first |author-first1=Reemul|author-last1=Balla|date=18 January 2023|url=https://news.sky.com/story/church-of-england-says-no-to-gay-marriage-but-archbishop-of-canterbury-welcomes-blessings-for-same-sex-couples-in-historic-first-12789291 |access-date=21 January 2023 |website=Sky News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Millard |first=Egan |date=20 January 2023 |title=Church of England releases draft prayers for same-sex blessings; archbishop of Canterbury says he won't use them |url=https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2023/01/20/church-of-england-releases-draft-prayers-for-same-sex-blessings-archbishop-of-canterbury-says-he-wont-use-them/ |access-date=21 January 2023 |website=Episcopal News Service |language=en-US}}</ref> The Church of England also permits clergy to enter into same-sex civil partnerships.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/feb/11/anglican-synod-gay-pension-rights|title=Church of England General Synod extends pension rights for gay partners|last=Bates|first=Stephen|date=11 February 2010|website=The Guardian|access-date=16 June 2016|archive-date=14 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210914013555/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/feb/11/anglican-synod-gay-pension-rights|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2024, the Church of England's General Synod voted to support allowing clergy to enter in civil same-sex marriages.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Henderson |first=Cameron |date=2024-07-08 |title=Church takes first steps to allowing gay priests to marry |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/07/08/church-of-england-votes-to-allow-gay-clergy-to-marry/ |access-date=2024-07-16 |work=The Telegraph |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Billson |first=Chantelle |date=2024-07-10 |title=Church of England body approves proposals to allow gay clergy to marry |url=https://www.thepinknews.com/2024/07/10/church-of-england-body-approves-proposals-to-allow-gay-clergy-to-marry/ |access-date=2024-07-16 |website=PinkNews }}</ref> In 2023, the Anglican Church of Southern Africa's bishops approved the drafting of prayers that could be said with same-sex couples and the draft prayers were published for consideration in 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-14 |title=Domestic Prayers for Same-Sex Couples in South Africa |url=https://livingchurch.org/2023/03/14/domestic-prayers-for-same-sex-couples-in-south-africa/ |access-date=2024-05-07 |website=The Living Church |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Bishops in Southern Africa agree to prayers but not blessings for same-sex couples |url=https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2023/10-march/news/world/bishops-in-southern-africa-agree-to-prayers-but-not-blessings-for-same-sex-couples |access-date=2024-05-07 |website=www.churchtimes.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Makgoba |first=Thabo |date=April 25, 2024 |title=Archbishop urges Anglicans to study draft prayers for ministry to same-sex couples |url=https://anglicanchurchsa.org/archbishop-urges-anglicans-to-study-draft-prayers-for-ministry-to-same-sex-couples/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR3lF4Yoc5c-mGL9bif5zS89ATlg8RYwPO-beLmjFKwYItiCDaDnpEFvreE_aem_AZWevl5mQlHf9anhsvtl57SyxGQ1HB2EwJ9VL6yn_TTFtjztCsahYAre0cOApod65OvISA4w6VHc4O8lC9EU1lK0 |website=Anglican Church of Southern Africa }}{{Dead link|date=May 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The [[Church of Ireland]] has no official position on civil unions, and one senior cleric has entered into a same-sex civil partnership.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-14787854|title=Minister Rev Tom Gordon civil partnership 'welcomed' – BBC News|language=en-GB|access-date=16 June 2016|date=5 September 2011|archive-date=11 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160111094251/http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-14787854|url-status=live}}</ref> The Church of Ireland recognised that it will "treat civil partners the same as spouses".<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/listening-process-vital-to-bring-gay-lesbian-clergy-in-from-margins-1.945021|title=Listening process vital to bring gay, lesbian clergy in from margins|newspaper=The Irish Times|access-date=21 June 2017|language=en-US|archive-date=19 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019220254/https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/listening-process-vital-to-bring-gay-lesbian-clergy-in-from-margins-1.945021|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Anglican Church of Australia]] does not have an official position on homosexuality.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/3226753.stm|title=BBC NEWS {{!}} Special Reports {{!}} Anglican Church around the world|website=news.bbc.co.uk|language=en-GB|access-date=21 June 2017|date=15 July 2008|archive-date=19 July 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080719073627/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/3226753.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>

The conservative Anglican churches encouraging the realignment movement are more concentrated in the Global South. For example, the [[Anglican Church of Kenya]], the Church of Nigeria and the [[Church of Uganda]] have opposed homosexuality.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/14/anglican-church-sanctions-against-liberal-us-church-same-sex-marriage|title=Anglican church avoids split over gay rights – but liberals pay price|last=Sherwood|first=Harriet|date=14 January 2016|website=The Guardian|access-date=16 June 2016|archive-date=15 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230115164134/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/14/anglican-church-sanctions-against-liberal-us-church-same-sex-marriage|url-status=live}}</ref> [[GAFCON]], a fellowship of conservative Anglican churches, has appointed "missionary bishops" in response to the disagreements with the perceived liberalisation in the Anglican churches in North America and Europe.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2017/28-april/news/uk/gafcon-considers-a-missionary-bishop-for-uk|title=GAFCON considers a missionary bishop for UK|website=www.churchtimes.co.uk|access-date=21 June 2017|archive-date=15 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230115164140/https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2017/28-april/news/uk/gafcon-considers-a-missionary-bishop-for-uk|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2023, ten archbishops within the Anglican Communion and two breakaway churches in North America and Brazil from the [[Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches]] (GSFA) declared a state of impaired communion with the Church of England and announced that they would no longer recognise the archbishop of Canterbury as the "first among equals" among the bishops in the Anglican Communion.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rocca |first=Francis X. |title=Conservative Anglican Leaders Call for Break With Church of England Over Same-Sex Blessings |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/conservative-anglican-leaders-call-for-break-with-church-of-england-over-same-sex-blessings-7215b707 |access-date=21 February 2023 |newspaper=Wall Street Journal |date=20 February 2023 |language=en-US}}</ref> However, in the same statement, the ten archbishops said that they would not leave the Anglican Communion.<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 February 2023 |title=GSFA Demands Anglican Communion Reset |url=https://livingchurch.org/2023/02/23/gsfa-demands-anglican-communion-reset/ |access-date=25 February 2023 |website=The Living Church |language=en-US|author-first1=Mark|author-last1=Michael}}</ref> In 2024, the GSFA met again establishing "a new structure," no longer recognising the Archbishop of Canterbury "as the ''de facto'' leader" of the Anglican Communion, but the GSFA reiterated that they intend to remain in the Anglican Communion.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches meets under a new structure |url=https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2024/28-june/news/world/global-south-fellowship-of-anglican-churches-meets-under-a-new-structure |access-date=2024-07-16 |website=Church Times|author-last1=Thornton|author-first1=Ed|date=28 June 2024}}</ref>

Debates about social theology and ethics have occurred at the same time as debates on prayer book revision and the acceptable grounds for achieving full communion with non-Anglican churches.{{sfn|Ward|2006|p=}}