This week, the Episcopal Church voted at its General Convention to allows the oridnation of gays and lesbians. The vote really isn’t surprising, as clergy and laity within the denomination have been talking about such an arrangement ever since V. Gene Robinson was ordained as bishop of New Hampshire in 2003. This move will likely for deepen the growing schism between the American church and the worldwide Anglican Communion. One of the most thoughtful and well-respected voices in Anglicanism is N.T. Wright, who wrote this in the wake of this week’s vote: “The Episcopal Church is now distancing itself from that fellowship. Ways must be found for all in America who want to be loyal to it, and to scripture, tradition and Jesus, to have that loyalty recognised and affirmed at the highest level.”