Nairobi — Methodists, Presbyterians and Anglicans should merge to resist Western influence effectively, a retired Anglican Bishop said yesterday.

Bishop John Mahiaini said the idea was especially important following the consecration of a gay bishop in US.

He urged members of the three churches, who form the St Paul United Theological College, to campaign for a United Church of Kenya.

The bishop supported Anglican archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi on the recent consecration of Rev Gene Robinson in New Hampshire, saying homosexuality was against the Scripture.

"The bible condemns such practices as immoral and ungodly, " he said in a statement.

The Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK), has threatened to sever links with the diocese of New Hampshire over the move.

It is feared that the church could be headed for a major split following the decision by Episcopal church of the US to recognise gay marriages.

Rev Robinson, 56, a divorced father of two, has an open relationship with another man.

His approval was delayed for a day by last-minute allegations of sexual misconduct, but a church inquiry quickly dismissed them as unfounded.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, who is also the head of the 80 million strong Anglicans world-wide, has appealed to the church in Africa not to act rashly.

Archbishop Nzimbi reiterated his stand yesterday that the ACK might cut ties with US Episcopalians.

Anglican churches are independent in each country but they liaise closely on spiritual matters.

"Homosexuality is not accepted. This practice is against the word of God," added the archbishop, who leads Kenya's four million Anglicans.

"Any province which is going ahead to allow leadership in the church to somebody who is gay or lesbian, we feel that we should not accept them."

He said a final decision would by made by a synod, or gathering, of Kenya's Anglican leaders.

Rev Williams said on Friday he would invite senior clergy to London to attend a meeting on the issue in mid-October.

Meanwhile, the Evangelical Lutheran Church told Anglicans not to relent in their opposition to the consecration of gay priests.

The head of the church in Kenya, bishop Walter Obare, said Christians in Kenya were happy with the stand of the ACK on the gay debate.

"Kenyan Christians are happy that the Anglican church has rejected a move by the West to impose weird, shameful and unbiblical doctrines on their followers", he said.

He spoke at Orongo Primary school near Kisumu, when he officially opened a free medical camp organised by the church.