The Singapore ordinations move outside that pattern and thus raise questions of jurisdiction, accountability - and a potential church split. There is already a bishop for South Carolina and for Pennsylvania. Because they were done in secret, there is concern that they did not allow for a clause in the ordination rite, which allows objections to be expressed. Last year Bishop Ingham refused permission for Archbishop Tay to speak in the diocese. He has proved my fears to be well grounded.
Schism is a possibility.
Bishop Murphy is head of the group First Promise, formed last year to propose a new province within the Anglican Communion based on theology rather than geography. Bishop Rodgers was nominated to serve as bishop of the potential new province. Meanwhile, Archbishops Tay and Kolini attended a meeting of conservative primates in Kampala, Uganda, last November that also discussed forming a new province, though they agreed to delay such a move until primates from around the world meet in Portugal in March. It is disturbing that this act of desperation took place before an international agreement was reached to establish a new province. We are disappointed that our friends acted against our clear advice and we cannot approve such a step as they have taken at this time.