The Archbishop of Canterbury yesterday urged the diocese of Los Angeles to think carefully about the potential impact before it confirms a lesbian as an assistant bishop.
Dr Rowan Williams said the election of Rev Mary Glasspool raised “very serious questions” for the Anglican Communion.
He added that the decision to confirm or reject her appointment would have “very important implications”.
Disagreement on the appointment of gay ministers is threatening to split the international Anglican community.
In a statement, Dr Williams said: “The election of Mary Glasspool by the diocese of Los Angeles as suffragan bishop-elect raises very serious questions not just for the Episcopal Church and its place in the Anglican Communion, but for the communion as a whole.”
The Episcopal Church, the Anglican body in the US, caused an uproar in 2003 by consecrating the first openly gay bishop, Gene Robinson of New Hampshire.
In 2004, Anglican leaders had asked it for a moratorium on electing another gay bishop while they tried to prevent a permanent break in the fellowship.
Since the request was made, some Episcopal gay priests were nominated for bishop, but none was elected before Rev Glasspool.
Breakaway Episcopal conservatives have formed a rival church, the Anglican Church in North America, and Dr Williams has come under pressure to give it official recognition.