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Lambeth Conference due to begin | Lambeth Conference due to begin |
(20 minutes later) | |
Hundreds of Anglican bishops are due to attend a special service at Canterbury Cathedral to mark the official opening of the Lambeth Conference. | Hundreds of Anglican bishops are due to attend a special service at Canterbury Cathedral to mark the official opening of the Lambeth Conference. |
The meeting has been overshadowed by controversy, with the Communion deeply divided about homosexuality after a gay man was made a bishop in the US. | |
About 250 bishops, a quarter of those invited, have boycotted the event. | About 250 bishops, a quarter of those invited, have boycotted the event. |
Critics claim the conference, which will hold its first formal session on Monday, will be unable to end the row. | |
Undermining unity | Undermining unity |
Bishops representing Anglicans in 160 countries had arrived in Canterbury the previous week for three days of quiet reflection. | Bishops representing Anglicans in 160 countries had arrived in Canterbury the previous week for three days of quiet reflection. |
They will gather in the Cathedral for Holy Communion and to hear a sermon from a Sri Lankan bishop. | They will gather in the Cathedral for Holy Communion and to hear a sermon from a Sri Lankan bishop. |
The issue of homosexuality will not be formally discussed until the end of the conference, and no resolution will be held - a move criticised by traditionalists. | The issue of homosexuality will not be formally discussed until the end of the conference, and no resolution will be held - a move criticised by traditionalists. |
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 Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has acknowledged that the Communion's problems are unlikely to be solved during the conference. | The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has acknowledged that the Communion's problems are unlikely to be solved during the conference. |
But he criticised those bishops who have stayed away for undermining unity. | But he criticised those bishops who have stayed away for undermining unity. |
Those who will not attend include the Anglican leaders of Nigeria, Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda and a group of countries in southern South America. | Those who will not attend include the Anglican leaders of Nigeria, Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda and a group of countries in southern South America. |
The most senior Church of England figure to stay away is the Bishop of Rochester, the Rt Rev Michael Nazir-Ali. | The most senior Church of England figure to stay away is the Bishop of Rochester, the Rt Rev Michael Nazir-Ali. |
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. | Bishop Robinson will be present on the fringes of the conference, which is being held at the University of Kent. |
The controversy over his appointment led Dr Williams not to invite him to attend. | The controversy over his appointment led Dr Williams not to invite him to attend. |