Anglican leaders will gather in Tanzania later this week to duke it out on the international churches most divisive issues, particularly the institution's stance on the homos. It will certainly be an eventful weekend, as more conservative leaders take a stand against Presiding Episcopal Bishop Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori and openly gay Bishop Gene Robinson. Of those leaders, Nigerian archbishop and virulent homophobe Peter Akinola's voice will undoubtedly be the loudest. Before Akinola wears out his vocal cords, however, a number of Nigerian activists are asking him to raise his fist against the African nation's proposed ban on homosexuality.

You may recall the long-dormant bill got a breath of fresh air a few months back, a resurrection Nigerian activists blame on the British-based Outrage! and other international gay rights organizations. Regardless of who's to blame, the discriminatory documents will effectively outlaw same-sex relations. In a list ditch effort, pro-gay Christian non-profit, Changing Attitude Nigeria has penned a desperate letter to Akinola and his allies.

[Read On ...]

Earlier this week, we reported that the worldwide Anglican communion's gearing up for a decisive meeting. Split over a number of issues - most notably the role of gays and women in the larger ecclesiastical tradition - many, including Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, fear a complete schism. Well, some African Anglicans (including, we're sure, crazy old Peter Akinola) certainly aren't making it any easier: they're refusing to even talk to the controversial head of the American Episocopal church and known female (!), Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori.

While the dissenters say they won't call a complete boycott of Schori (a boycott we're not sure they would organize, anyway), Kenyan Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi (pictured) tells Reuters:

[It's] difficult to share a meeting with somebody who is ... fighting what we believe Scripture is saying.

There is dialogue, this can take place, but I think we have listened to one another enough.

At least someone down there's not frothing at the mouth. Our friend Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane of southern Africa had this to say:

Reports of a boycott ... is like fiddling while Rome burns... More importantly it goes against God's fundamental call for unity and reconciliation.

While Alan Cumming and Grant Shaffer celebrate their homo matrimony, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams (pictured, looking every bit a lady) has been worrying over a possible Anglican schism.

As loyal readers of Queerty, you're well aware of the dramas facing the 77 million Christian coalition. Most recently, homo-hating Archbishop Peter Akinola enticed a number of US-based Episcopal churches to join his Nigeria-based camp. He and other leaders from the developing world have joined in opposition to openly gay Gene Robinson's 2003 ascension to Bishop of New Hampshire and the officiation of (gasp! a female!) Katharine Jefferts Schori as head of the US Episcopalians.

Just weeks away from an international Anglican meeting in Tanzania, Williams told Britain's ITV:

And because I am an ordinary, sinful human being, I fear the situation slipping out of my control, such as it is... I fear schism, not because I think it's the worst thing in the world but because, at this particular juncture, it's going to be bad for us. It's going to drive people into recrimination and bitterness.

We can't take it for granted that the Anglican Communion will go on as it always has been... Of course that's unsettling, of course that's painful for everybody, but there's no way of moving on without asking the hard questions.

Williams' statements come hot on the heels of a controversy concerning gay Church of England priests who have married without passing celibacy tests and wide speculation over his ability to lead the international group.

Damn, things sure are shitty for Williams these days. Our advice: have a spliff, take a bath and pray things work out for the best. If that doesn't work: convert to Satanism - then you'd actually have a chance in hell.

New Episcopal Church leader Bishop Katherine Jefferts Schori spoke to CNN's Kyra Phillips this afternoon. On the topical agenda? Gays, gays, gay!

Schori's official position: they're people too. In a surprisingly rational explanation (for a religious leader), Schori explains that the Bible's teachings are sometimes outdated; when it comes to food, we long ago abandoned the doctrine. Why shouldn't the same be done when it comes to gay men and women? (We apologize in advance for the shoddy film quality.)

First they consecrate an openly gay bishop. Next they elect the first female leader in the religion's history. Clearly, changes are afoot inside the Episcopal Church — but likely only in the U.S. In Europe and Africa, meanwhile, things aren't looking so liberal. Which is why America's sect of the Anglican Communion could soon see itself split from the rest of the world.

When Katherine Jefferts Schori was elected Sunday to become head of the 2.2 million member U.S. denomination, shock waves were felt throughout the church. Not only is she a woman, she's pro-gay; she gave Gene Robinson her vote to help him become the New Hampshire leader three years ago.

But this liberal series of changes is, according to all accounts, creating a "schism" (every journalist's favorite word here) inside the 77 million member church. Outside the U.S., and particularly in Africa, Schori's acceptance of gays in the church seems to be the paramount problem. And because of her acceptance of all people, the church is on the verge of splitting into two distinct groups. Some say it already has.

Anglicans face gloomy prediction of schism [Reuters]