The Anglican archbishop of Uganda declared his full support Monday for two Southern California parishes that have broken away from the Episcopal Church in the United States and affiliated with a conservative diocese in that African nation.
Archbishop Henry Luke Orombi, Anglican primate of Uganda, also denounced Los Angeles Episcopal Bishop J. Jon Bruno for threatening to defrock the disaffected parish clergy unless they returned to the Episcopal Church.
The statement marked another escalation in the tensions within the worldwide Anglican Communion over theological differences and homosexuality.
With Orombi's intervention, the dispute has been elevated to one between two national churches, rather than a strictly local controversy. The Episcopal Church is the American branch of the communion.
"We condemn any attempt on the part of the Episcopal bishop of Los Angeles to depose our clergy serving at St. James Church, Newport Beach, and All Saints Church, Long Beach," Orombi said in the statement. Bruno "has no jurisdiction over them, and we will not recognize his actions."
Last week, the two conservative parishes broke with the national Episcopal Church over such issues as the national church's decision to ordain an openly gay priest as a bishop. Orombi said Monday that clergy at the two parishes now belong to -- are "canonically resident" in -- the Diocese of Luweeroin Uganda led by Bishop Evans Kisekka. Orombi is Kisekka's archbishop.
Orombi's Ugandan province broke relations with the Episcopal Church last year after the U.S. denomination approved the election of a gay priest as bishop of New Hampshire, the Rt. Rev. V. Gene Robinson. On Monday, Orombi took Bruno to task for his support of that decision and for officiating in May in Los Angeles at a same-sex blessing for one of his priests.
"We pray for [Bruno's] repentance, and the repentance of all the Episcopal Church leadership who voted for the consecration of a man in an active homosexual relationship as bishop of New Hampshire -- and their return to the historic faith and communion of the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church," Orombi said.
Responding to Orombi's statement that the Long Beach and Newport parishes have joined the Ugandan church, Bruno was adamant Monday. "I cannot and will not yield my authority over these priests and deacon," he said in an interview.
