This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/7515878.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Service opens Lambeth Conference | |
| (about 10 hours later) | |
| Hundreds of Anglican bishops have attended a special service at Canterbury Cathedral to mark the 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. | 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. | 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 gathered in the Cathedral for Holy Communion and heard 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. |