Rev. William Atwood (left) and Rev.William Leo Murdoch (right) listen to the proceedings during a mass where the two were consecrated as bishops by Kenyan Archbishop of the Anglican Church, Reverend Benjamin Nzimbi (centre), at the All Saints Cathedral Church in Kenya's capital, Nairobi, yesterday. - Reuters

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP):

More than a century ago, Western missionaries began streaming into Africa looking for souls in need of salvation. Now, conservative American priests say it's their church that needs saving.

Yesterday, two United States priests were consecrated as Anglican bishops in Kenya, the latest in a string of priests who are defecting to African congregations because of the American Church's liberal stance on gays.

"The West used to send missionaries to Africa and the Third World," said Kenyan Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi as he consecrated Bill Atwood and William Murdoch. "But now the Third World is sending its missionaries to the West."