Uganda consecrates US conservative as bishop

KAMPALA, Sept 2 (Reuters) Uganda's Anglican Archbishop Henry Luke Orombi consecrated an American bishop opposed to gay marriage today, the latest in a spate of conservative clerics to leave the US Episcopal Church.

The consecration of the Virginia-based conservative, John Guernsey, came just three days after Kenya's Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi named two American priests as bishops.

Orombi spokeswoman Alison Barfoot said the archbishop had called Guernsey to lead 33 congregations in the United States that will recognise the Church of Uganda's authority.

''He's an ecclesiastical refugee,'' she told Reuters by telephone from the ceremony, referring to Guernsey.

''We thought the crisis in the Anglican Church would be resolved by now. We expected the Episcopal Church to repent ... but they have prolonged the crisis.'' The 77 million-strong Anglican Communion has been split since its 2.4 million-member U.S. branch consecrated Gene Robinson as Anglicanism's first openly gay bishop four years ago.

Orombi's service in western Uganda included primates from the ''Global South'' churches of Latin America, Africa and Asia who support traditional Anglicanism's tough stance against gay marriage.

The US Church accuses Africans of invading their turf.

Conservative Africans retort that they are merely providing refuge for orthodox believers at odds with liberal views.

''This is not about sexuality, it's about scripture,'' Barfoot said. ''The leadership of the Anglican church has hijacked us to a faith that does not represent Biblical Christianity.'' REUTERS PDT PM1819