ANGLICAN leaders in the Third World believe the American church is taking revenge on them for their opposition to the election of a gay bishop by cutting off funds for food, aid and charitable works.

They believe about $20m (??12m) distributed by the American churches to Africa and other Third World countries is at risk because of the developing nations?? uncompromising stand over the gay issue. One grant from a rich ??liberal?? US church is already understood to have been denied to Rwanda.

More than half the Anglican leaders outside America have already quietly severed relations with the American church because of its support for the forthcoming ordination of Gene Robinson, an openly gay priest, as Bishop of New Hampshire.

The move, undertaken by Anglican provinces in southeast Asia, central Africa, South America and elsewhere, means that US bishops are no longer welcome to celebrate communion and their priests will not be able to take up posts in areas that have broken relations.

The financial consequences for churches in developing nations could be harsh. Although officials maintain they will continue to fund Africa, Trinity Church on Wall Street, the world??s richest Anglican congregation, is said to have cut off some funding already. Rwanda, for example, is understood to have been told it will no longer receive a ??60,000 annual grant. Many Third World churches depend on US aid for computers, phone systems and bishops?? travel costs.

Bernard Malango, Archbishop of Central Africa, said this weekend that Oge Beauvoir, Trinity??s funding officer, had told him grants to his province would be cut because of the breach. Malango said this would not change his mind. ??I am not going to sell my rights. I am a man of principle,?? he said.

Robert Duncan, Bishop of Pittsburgh, last night also expressed his concern over the financial threats: ??Archbishops and bishops abroad have been threatened with a withdrawal of funding for ministry from liberal US bishops and dioceses.??

A letter from Peter Akinola, Archbishop of Nigeria, to his province, warned: ??We are mindful of the backlash this strong stand (against the ordination of gay bishops) can engender from the rich churches in Europe, America and Canada who have long used their wealth to intimidate financially weak churches in Africa.??

Gregory Venables, a leading conservative and Primate of the Southern Cone in Latin America, said: ??The breaking has already happened . . . we can??t wait for the break as already a number of provinces have said there is broken or impaired communion.??

Additional reporting: Sarah Keenlyside

Explore UK News

• Crime News

• Education News

• Health News

• Science News

• Scotland News

Times Recommends

• Swine flu vaccine for all as drug rushed through
• Artificial sperm and the race to build a baby
• BBC jets out stars to tout for prizes