Conservative Anglicans in the United States and overseas have distanced themselves from a decision made by The Episcopal Church (TEC) last week to approve its second openly gay bishop.

Mary Glasspool, a 56-year-old New York native, was given final approval last Wednesday by the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, confirming her track to become the church's second openly gay bishop after Gene Robinson of New Hampshire, who was ordained in 2003.

Much like in Robinson's case, Glasspool's approval has been met with a mix of criticism and praise with seeming little room for reconciliation.

Most recently the Communion Partner Bishops and Rectors, a group of eighteen active and retired clergy and academics issued a statement to "disassociate" themselves from Glasspool's approval and expressed sorrow at the separation in the church caused by the Los Angeles Diocese's decision.

"It is with profound sorrow that we, the Communion Partner Bishops and Rectors, express our deepest regret to our brothers and sisters in the Anglican Communion for the action of the majority of the diocesan bishops and standing committees of the dioceses of The Episcopal Church in voting to consent to the consecration as a bishop of a woman living in a sexual relationship outside Christian marriage," the group said.

The group, like others, also noted the Los Angeles Diocese' ignoring of a request last December by the Archbishop of Canterbury for the body to exercise "gracious restraint in respect of actions which are contrary to the mind of the Communion."

"This separation is a witness to the need for the Anglican Covenant as the means through which dioceses and congregations in The Episcopal Church can affirm their commitment to the Anglican Communion," the Communion Partners said.

UK-based Anglican group Fulcrum also blasted TEC's "clear rejection of the authority of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lambeth Conference, the Primates' Meeting and the Anglican Consultative Council," and made an open request for Episcopal Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori to not be invited to the Primate's Meeting planned for January 2011.

"Actions have consequences," the group added.

In a March 17 posting, Jeff Walton, director of the Anglican Action Program for the Institute on Religion & Democracy (IRD), called Glasspool's election "unfortunate because she has unapologetically taken sexual expression outside of the God-ordained boundary of Holy Matrimony."

"In the view of the wider Anglican Communion, this practice makes her unqualified to serve in the role of a bishop," he said.

Walton said that he views Glasspool's election as "the next step in the Episcopal Church's liberalizing trajectory" and is a clear expression of "how little the U.S.-based denomination cares about what other parts of the global Anglican Communion believe."

"The majority of the Episcopal Church is increasingly practicing a separate faith than what most worldwide Anglicans practice," Walton said.

Walton also noted that Glasspool's election comes at a time when TEC membership is declining, while the breakaway Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) has added 100 new congregations since July.

Meanwhile, the Rev. Sharon Ferguson, chief executive of the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement, has "enthusiastically welcomed" Glasspool to her new position.

"It was our prayer that wisdom, maturity and justice would guide this process. Our prayers have been answered and we are thrilled by the outcome," Ferguson said in March 22 statement. "The Episcopal Church have [sic] demonstrated a commitment to the inclusive gospel of Christ and have recognized the qualities, experience and deep Christian faith which have characterized Mary Glasspool's ministry thus far."

Ferguson's group said it "hopes that even those who find this to be a decision they cannot accept will join with her in furthering the cause of the gospel in a hurting world."

Glasspool, who said after her election that she wishes to "strengthen the bonds of affection" among those divided on her approval, is currently attending a bishop's retreat in Texas with her consecration scheduled for May.