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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Bishops gathering for conference | Bishops gathering for conference |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Anglican bishops from more than 150 countries are gathering in Canterbury for the 10-yearly Lambeth Conference. | Anglican bishops from more than 150 countries are gathering in Canterbury for the 10-yearly Lambeth Conference. |
| The 650 bishops will have three days of prayer and reflection led by Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams before conference business starts on Monday. | The 650 bishops will have three days of prayer and reflection led by Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams before conference business starts on Monday. |
| One of the key debates will be on the Anglican Covenant document, which aims to avoid a split in the Church over the consecration of gay bishops. | One of the key debates will be on the Anglican Covenant document, which aims to avoid a split in the Church over the consecration of gay bishops. |
| Some 250 bishops have boycotted the conference over the issue. | Some 250 bishops have boycotted the conference over the issue. |
| FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme | FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme |
| The Church's mission and evangelisation, human sexuality, social justice, the environment and violence against women will also be discussed. | The Church's mission and evangelisation, human sexuality, social justice, the environment and violence against women will also be discussed. |
| The debate about homosexuality in the Anglican Church has followed the consecration in the US of the openly gay Bishop of New Hampshire, the Rt Rev Gene Robinson. | The debate about homosexuality in the Anglican Church has followed the consecration in the US of the openly gay Bishop of New Hampshire, the Rt Rev Gene Robinson. |
| Bishop Robinson will be present on the fringes of the conference, which is being held at the University of Kent. | |
| HAVE YOUR SAY While faiths exist, those in the UK must start to reflect the laws of the country in which they exist and gays and women hold as much right to practise a faith as any other human being. Kate Owen, BristolSend us your comments | |
| The controversy over his appointment led Dr Williams not to invite him. | The controversy over his appointment led Dr Williams not to invite him. |
| Those boycotting the conference include the Anglican leaders of Nigeria, Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda and a group of countries in southern South America. | Those boycotting the conference include the Anglican leaders of Nigeria, Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda and a group of countries in southern South America. |
| The Archbishop of Nigeria, Peter Akinola, told the BBC that the leaders of the church had broken away from the Anglican family in support of homosexual priests. | |
| He said: "Rather than make a mockery of the holy Eucharist or the sacrament of the Lord, it was better we don't participate and all efforts to get us back are failed. | |
| "So until there is restoration of communion there is no basis for coming together." | |
| The most senior Church of England figure not attending is the Bishop of Rochester, the Rt Rev Michael Nazir-Ali. | The most senior Church of England figure not attending is the Bishop of Rochester, the Rt Rev Michael Nazir-Ali. |