Conservative Anglicans plan break away

JERUSALEM, June 27 (UPI) -- Anglican conservatives plan to form a "church within a church," severing ties with the Episcopal Church, a leader in the movement said Friday in Israel.

Benjamin Nzimbi, the archbishop of Kenya, said "more permanent structures" are needed for faithful Anglicans in provinces "that have abandoned the traditional teaching of the Bible."

A communique, being prepared by participants in the Global Anglican Future Conference in Jerusalem, likely will formalize a break with the Episcopal Church, The Washington Times reported Friday.

This move will include a break with the progressive wing of the Episcopal Church, Nigerian Bishop John Akao said. It also would encompass a common approach to reading the Bible, a new catechism and a new Book of Common Prayer shared by conservatives, he said.

Nzimbi said the new group would work as closely as possible with the archbishop of Canterbury and would be "determined to stay true to the Bible, to continue the work of mission and to do so as Anglicans."

About three-quarters of all active Anglicans are Africans, including 25 million in Nigeria, 10 million in Uganda, 4 million in Kenya and 1 million in Rwanda.