Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams has yet to decide whether or not he'll invite openly gay Archbishop Gene Robinson to the Anglican Communion's September conference, but his unorthodox actions are definitely bolstering the religion's left.

California bishop Marc Andrus (pictured) has released a statement expressing his staunch solidarity with Robinson:

I will be seeking to learn how I can best be in solidarity with Bishop Robinson, through prayerful action.

The tactic of isolation and exile being employed against Bishop Robinson is retrogressive behavior that moves us towards a past from which Christ is always seeking to redeem us. I ask the people of the Diocese of California to pray with me about our common life with all of God's people and the earth.

Akinola leads the queer-hating crusade to control America's conservative Episcopal churches, which has successfully wooed a number of Virginia-based churches, including Bishop Martyn Minns' congregation.

Minns, meanwhile, will not be invited to September's festivities.

The ongoing Anglican Communion's queer internal struggle took a decidedly high school direction this week. Two of the most controversial American bishops have not been invited to next year's international Anglican Communion conference, according to the Archbishop of Canterbury's office.

Neither openly gay Gene Robinson, nor Bishop Martyn Minns - who leads a breakaway Virginia church aligned with anti-gay Bishop Peter Akinola. Secretary general of the communion, Canon Kenneth Kearon told reporters that while Robinson may get a last minute invite, Minns definitely off the list. Washington Post reports:

Robinson may be invited to attend the Lambeth Conference as a guest, but Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams is not contemplating inviting Minns, Kearon said.

"The question of Gene Robinson ... I think has exercised the archbishop of Canterbury's mind for quite some time... However, for the archbishop to simply give full recognition at this conference would be to ignore the very substantial and very widespread objections in many parts of the communion to his consecration and to his ministry.

Nigeria Anglican Archbishop Peter Akinola's tightening his grip on America's soul. The virulent homophobe will pay Woodbridge, Virginia a little visit to appoint former Episcopal clergyman Martyn Minns as the leader of Akinola's Convocation of Anglicans in North America.

Born from the never-ending gay debate, Akinola's Nigeria-based Convocation aims to recruit conservative Americans into his Bible-thumping fold. American Episcopal leader Katharine Jefferts Schori has pleaded with Akinola to back off her territory, but it seems Akinola's hellbent on a bit of religious colonization. Akinola replied by saying that the CANA will:

provide a safe place for those who wish to remain faithful Anglicans but can no longer do so within the Episcopal Church as it is currently being led.

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Gay Canadian Anglicans may be praying for some divine intervention over the next seven weeks. The Anglican Church of Canada has released a statement rejecting the possibility of blessing gay unions. For now, at least:

Where we are today - not in June, but as of today - our doctrine and discipline does not allow the blessing of same-sex unions. So we're acknowledging that's where we are, understanding that that could change in June.

Canadian Anglicans may not approve of gay nuptials, but that doesn't mean they're not praying for your sissy soul. Winnipeg Free Press reports:

[Their official statement adds] that it is "a Gospel imperative to pray with the whole people of God, no matter their circumstance."

For example, the statement suggests a parish, with its bishop's knowledge and permission, could pray with a civilly married gay or lesbian couple that wants recognition of their union and celebrate a eucharist with the couple.

They also say they hope that "no child is denied baptism solely on the basis of the sexual orientation, or the marital status, of the parents."

"It is inconsistent and unacceptable to deny baptism to children as a way of imposing discipline on the sexual behaviour of the parents," says the statement.

Yesterday the stakes rose even higher in the present gay debate rumbling through the Anglican Church when Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams discovered a major flaw in the Biblical passage being proclaimed by conservatives all this while as part-and-parcel proof that homosexuality has no place in the faith was, well, totally wrong and being taken way out of context...

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There's a bit of an ideological scuffle going on over in merry old England. Supreme leader of the Church of England, Rowan Williams - the Archbishop of Canterbury - and his number two, Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu took decidely different stances on the Church's future this weekend - particularly over the protracted gay debate.

Sentamu told The Daily Mail:

The Church has not been very good at clearly spelling out what the message of Jesus is about.

We have been indulging in a lot of debates which I don't think really have much to do sometimes with the Christian faith.

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Episcopal leaders put their foot down Tuesday, insisting they will not endorse a new church structure to split the conservative and liberal congregations.

The American branch of the international Anglican Communion, the Episcopal church has been at odds with their pious peers ever since the openly gay Bishop Gene Robinson's ascension in 2004.

Earlier this year, Episcopal president Katharine Jefferts Schori traveled to Tanzania to discuss the churches support for gay and lesbians and the ever-divisive issue of gay marriage. The combined conservatism of Archbishop Peter Akinola of Nigeria and his like-minded peers proved too much, however, and the Americans were given six months to come up with a concrete decision.

And now it seems they have...

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Gene Robinson's never shied from controversy. The openly gay Archbishop of New Hampshire's 2004 ascension has led to a severe rift in the worldwide Anglican Communion, not to mention America's Episcopal Church. His recent comments on coming out, we're sure, will raise a fresh stink from detractors:

If you want to know my homosexual agenda, it's Jesus.

I feel that this is a real extension of what I've been called to do in the gospels.

And I would propose to you that peoples' coming out - gay and lesbian folk being honest about who they are, what their lives are, what their families are like, their desire to contribute to this culture, to serve in the military, to take their place as full citizens of this country - is God at work.

Gay bishop says coming out is God at work [Pink News UK]
My Homosexual Agenda is Jesus, Bishop Declares [Crosswalk]

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American Episcopal leader Katharine Jefferts Schori may have supported openly gay Bishop Gene Robinson's ascension back in 2004, but it seems she's ready to give up the good gay fight. Fresh from her trip to Tanzania, where she and her pious peers debated the role of gays in the broader Anglican Communion, Schori came out to urge her loyal followers to concede to international pressure and end gay ordinations.

To live together in Christian community means each member takes seriously the concerns and needs of other members. If we can lower the emotional reactivity in the midst of this current controversy, we just might be able to find a way to live together.

Could it be that Schori's lost her backbone? It certainly looks that way.

Bishop Gene Robinson may not be as famous as Lance Bass, but he's certainly just as gay. He's so gay, in fact, that his 2003 ascension as New Hampshire's Episcopal bishop sparked the controversy that threatens the American churches relationship with the worldwide Anglican communion.

You may recall church leaders met recently in Tanzania, where the conservatives issued a stern warning to the more liberal American sect, insisting that the Yanks must agree not to ordain any more openly gay bishops and must stop blessing same-sex unions. With a deadline set for September 29, America's presiding Bishop, Katharine Jefferts Schori implied that the church would comply, at least for a while. Robinson, however - he ain't having it.

How will we explain this 'forbearance' to all those gay and lesbian Christians who have come to the Episcopal Church because, for the first time ever, they have believed that there is a place for them at God's table, not simply beneath it, hoping for fallen scraps?
...
Does anyone believe that our full compliance with the primates' demands, our complete denunciation of our gay and lesbian members or my removal as bishop would make all this go away?

The Episcopal Church may not be in the best standing with the Anglican Communion, but that didn't stop Louisville's Bishop Ted Gulick from trying to increase his personal standing by expressing regret over his past votes. Speaking to his congregation, Gulick pledged his support to gay worshippers, saying:

I hereby publicly and deliberately apologize to our devoted gay and lesbian men and woman in our diocese for whom this (latest) vote causes pain and alienation... I know you to be my sisters and brothers in Christ. I thank you for your patience and forbearance with the church in this season.

We can't wait to see how he makes up for this one.

• Now that you're mind's been completely blown by Hilary Duff's incredible charisma, you may be interested to hear that pot activists, Americans for Safe Access have filed a lawsuit against the federal government. Basing their argument on last week's study affirming marijuana's medicinal affects in HIV patients - that is, the patients getting high felt way better than those getting a stupid placebo - the ASA hopes to end the government's reign of bummer-inducing tyranny. [CBS News]

• Meanwhile, the democracy-seeking Second Life Liberation Army has launched its first attack against cyber-world Second Life - blowing up an American Apparel and Reebok stores, thus sparking what may become a virtual war on terror. One militant member said, "The population of the world should have a say in the running of the world". Um, he does know Second Life doesn't really exist? [Second Life Liberation Army]

• Utah-based journo Jay Walker's blowin' up Fred Phelps and Friends' spot. He thinks that if the "God Hates Fags" protesters insist on blowing Leviticus out of proportion, they'd better start practicing the Bible's other "outrageous" laws, like stoning rape victims. [The Daily Utah]

• Come hell or high water, New York Bishop Mark Sisk will not let the Anglican Communion blow up his moral integrity. Of the group's prescribed ban on the American Episcopal's gay loving ways, Sisk says, "I am not in the least prepared to make any concession that strikes at the heart of my conviction that gay and lesbian people are God's beloved children." Go on, girl! [NYDN]

• Speaking of girls going on: is Britney Spears looking to blow up the world record for most rehab visits in a week? [Jossip]

• The Roxy will close its doors on March 10th. It'll will be blown up a few days later. [Joe. My. God.]

• Go blow up David Lachapelle's spot at Soho's Taschen store. In turn, he'll sign your copy of his new book and give you an invite to the after party. It's going on right now, you'd better get going. And so should we... [Gothamist]