CPWI Disagrees with Church of England
Refuses to Break and Distances Itself From Global South
The Church of the Province of the West Indies (CPWI) disagrees with the actions of the last meeting of the Church of England’s General Synod but chose not to break communion.
Furthermore, it distanced itself from the actions of the Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches in regard to the Church of England’s departure from biblical orthodoxy.
The CPWI statement said,
“We acknowledge that the Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches has continued to make public statements regarding the authority of the existing structure of the Worldwide Anglican Communion and apparently promoting an alternative structure. CPWI does not support this direction toward a separate fellowship; rather, we support holding the Anglican Communion together despite differing views. Mutual respect, dialogue, and Christian forbearance must fortify our common life.”
The CPWI is comprised of 8 dioceses. They are: Jamaica, Barbados, Belize, Guyana, North Eastern Caribbean & Aruba, Bahamas & Turks and Caicos, Trinidad & Tobago, and Windward Islands.
The current and soon to be retiring Archbishop, the Most Revd Howard K. Gregory of Jamaica is considered to be far more liberal in his outlook than bishops from the other dioceses. Jamaica and Barbados are the two dioceses with the most US and UK theological influences.
Former CPWI Archbishop Drexel Wellington Gomez was an early conservative episcopal leader in the realignment movement At one point, he issued a statement to expat clergy serving in the US & Canada telling them to return to the Province or be denied the ability to ever serve there again. Many CPWI clergy had immigrated to the US and Canada where stipends were far more favourable.
Clerical same-sex practices within Anglican circles were first brought under international attention when then Revd Vicky Gene Robinson and his male lover caused a scandal whilst Robinson was serving a locum on the island of St Bart’s. It is located in the Diocese of North Eastern Caribbean & Aruba. When Robinson was barred from ever serving another locum in the Province (by then Archbishop Orland Lindsay) Robinson responded by filing a lawsuit.
