What an ordeal this must be for Episcopalians! May God have mercy on them.
For this Episcopalian at least, it's more like watching an episode of Monty Python. I have the luxury, for the moment, of being able to keep my focus on my parish, and to try to keep it healthy. I'll let God handle tomorrow and the next day....
Clearly the House of Bishops (HOB) was shocked and alarmed by yesterday's vote. Frank Griswold was described as being "frantic" to have the HOB re-open the issue, and I imagine there was some serious arm-twisting to get the House of Deputies to reverse yesterday's vote.
There's no telling how the rest of the Communion will interpret this. I suspect that many or most provinces will (probably correctly) interpret the first vote as indicating the "true mind" of the Episcopal Church, and that today's vote is more an attempt to "stay in the club."
Rowan Williams will gratefully accept today's vote, though -- so the game will go on for another 2 years until Lambeth.