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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Church 'wounded' over gay boycott | Church 'wounded' over gay boycott |
| (about 22 hours later) | |
| Bishops attending the Lambeth Conference have heard how the row over gay clergy has left the Anglican church a "wounded community". | Bishops attending the Lambeth Conference have heard how the row over gay clergy has left the Anglican church a "wounded community". |
| About 210 bishops - a quarter of those invited - have boycotted the event, following the consecration of the gay bishop of New Hampshire, Gene Robinson. | |
| In a pre-conference sermon, Bishop Duleep de Chickera said the boycott was an indication that "all was not well." | In a pre-conference sermon, Bishop Duleep de Chickera said the boycott was an indication that "all was not well." |
| Critics say the conference, starting on Monday, will be unable to end the row. | Critics say the conference, starting on Monday, will be unable to end the row. |
| Undermining unity | Undermining unity |
| In his sermon, held the day before the conference formally opens on Monday, Bishop de Chickera, of Colombo, Sri Lanka, said: "The crisis is complex - it is not a crisis that can be resolved instantly. | In his sermon, held the day before the conference formally opens on Monday, Bishop de Chickera, of Colombo, Sri Lanka, said: "The crisis is complex - it is not a crisis that can be resolved instantly. |
| Why have people decided that they want to change the faith that has been delivered to the saints? Keith Ackerman Bishop of Quincy, Illinois | Why have people decided that they want to change the faith that has been delivered to the saints? Keith Ackerman Bishop of Quincy, Illinois |
| "The journey ahead is a long and complex one, a journey that will demonstrate our prayer, our faithfulness, our mutual trust in each other and of course our trust in God who realises it is possible." | "The journey ahead is a long and complex one, a journey that will demonstrate our prayer, our faithfulness, our mutual trust in each other and of course our trust in God who realises it is possible." |
| The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has also acknowledged that the Communion's problems are unlikely to be solved during the conference. | The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has also 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. |
| 'Defensive' | 'Defensive' |
| The most senior Church of England figure to stay away is the Bishop of Rochester, Michael Nazir-Ali. | The most senior Church of England figure to stay away is the Bishop of Rochester, Michael Nazir-Ali. |
| Keith Ackerman, Bishop of Quincy, Illinois, said he sympathised with conservative views but wanted to attend the conference so his point of view could be heard. | Keith Ackerman, Bishop of Quincy, Illinois, said he sympathised with conservative views but wanted to attend the conference so his point of view could be heard. |
| He told BBC News: "Why have people decided that they want to change the faith that has been delivered to the saints? | He told BBC News: "Why have people decided that they want to change the faith that has been delivered to the saints? |
| "So often those who are maintaining what Anglicanism has always taught are seen as the ones that have to be defensive. | "So often those who are maintaining what Anglicanism has always taught are seen as the ones that have to be defensive. |
| "My question is why do you want to change that which you have vowed to uphold by virtue of the promises you made at your ordination?" | "My question is why do you want to change that which you have vowed to uphold by virtue of the promises you made at your ordination?" |
| 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 debate about homosexuality in the Anglican Church has followed the consecration in the US of the openly gay Bishop of New Hampshire, 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, 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. |