The Most Rev. George Carey, Archbishop of Canterbury, told a gathering in the Diocese of Fort Worth that allowing individual dioceses of the Episcopal Church to set their own policy on blessing same-sex unions and ordaining non-celibate homosexual persons would be tantamount to creating schism in the Anglican Communion.

"The moment you have a diocese that goes it alone, you break with catholicity and fundamental belief," said the archbishop, who was in Wichita Falls, Texas, May 11-14, to deliver the prestigious Perkins Lectures at the First United Methodist Church and to receive an honorary doctorate from Southern Methodist University's Perkins School of Theology. "One creates schism."

During a meeting between the archbishop and the Rt. Rev. Jack Iker, Bishop of Fort Worth, and his clergy, participants expressed concern over the report to General Convention from the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music [TLC, May 21]. The report recommended that blessings of homosexual unions be determined on a diocese-by-diocese basis, rather than by attempting to enact a uniform church policy.

But Archbishop Carey reacted strongly against the notion of a "local option" in matters pertaining to ordaining practicing gays and the blessing of same-sex unions. He declared that such actions would "endanger the Anglican Communion."

The archbishop pointed to the Oporto Communiqué written by the primates of the Anglican Communion meeting in Portugal [TLC, April 16] as a "real warning" to dioceses against taking unilateral action on issues affecting homosexual persons. Archbishop Carey also delivered a stern warning to deputies from around the church who will convene at General Convention in July.

"The General Convention should pay close attention to the primates' statement at Oporto and consider the effects of their actions on the Communion."

Archbishop Carey said the idea of a "local option" on such serious issues is the result of a tendency to let the culture drive the church. "We must as Christians stand against this," he said. "We don't hear much about obedience these days. But we must obey Christ himself. Mission and unity are at the heart of what we are."

Archbishop Carey thanked Bishop Iker for "his witness in the Episcopal Church." He also praised Bishop Iker and the diocese, saying, "I hope your diocese sends out a strong signal about the way you work together in mission and unity."

In the Perkins Lectures, Archbishop Carey gave four addresses titled "Christianity in the Crucible." He delivered the addresses in the context of Paul's Letter to the Ephesians "and that of the busy and questioning world in which we live."