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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| No agreement on Church gay issue | No agreement on Church gay issue |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A meeting of Anglican bishops is likely to end with no agreement on the issue of homosexuality which has threatened to tear the Church apart. | A meeting of Anglican bishops is likely to end with no agreement on the issue of homosexuality which has threatened to tear the Church apart. |
| The Lambeth Conference has been taking place amid controversy over homosexual clergy and same-sex unions. | The Lambeth Conference has been taking place amid controversy over homosexual clergy and same-sex unions. |
| About 200 bishops have boycotted the once-a-decade forum over the issue. | About 200 bishops have boycotted the once-a-decade forum over the issue. |
| But the BBC's Robert Pigott says there are signs of support for a long-term strategy to prevent further disintegration. | |
| The religious correspondent said there had been criticism of the way that, during the conference, bishops have been split up into small groups to discuss the issue that has brought the Communion to the brink of a permanent split. | The religious correspondent said there had been criticism of the way that, during the conference, bishops have been split up into small groups to discuss the issue that has brought the Communion to the brink of a permanent split. |
| "However, it seems that a number of the groups have voted for a ban on gay bishops and church blessings for homosexual couples, as part of a long-term plan to preserve at least the core of the Communion," he said. | "However, it seems that a number of the groups have voted for a ban on gay bishops and church blessings for homosexual couples, as part of a long-term plan to preserve at least the core of the Communion," he said. |
| Such an arrangement would result in a two-tier communion but no church would be expelled. | Such an arrangement would result in a two-tier communion but no church would be expelled. |
| The man whose ordination triggered the crisis - the Bishop of New Hampshire, Gene Robinson - said he was opposed to any such centralisation. | The man whose ordination triggered the crisis - the Bishop of New Hampshire, Gene Robinson - said he was opposed to any such centralisation. |
| He told Radio 4's Sunday programme that some traditionalists were actively working towards schism. | He told Radio 4's Sunday programme that some traditionalists were actively working towards schism. |
| "Bullies always come back for more. And the one thing that I think the Archbishop is blind to is the fact that nothing short of total victory will satisfy these guys." | "Bullies always come back for more. And the one thing that I think the Archbishop is blind to is the fact that nothing short of total victory will satisfy these guys." |
| Divisive issue | Divisive issue |
| Traditionalist Anglicans say several passages in the Bible clearly outlaw active homosexuality. | Traditionalist Anglicans say several passages in the Bible clearly outlaw active homosexuality. |
| But liberals say the Bible's general message is that all people should be included in the Church. | But liberals say the Bible's general message is that all people should be included in the Church. |
| Last weekend, the Archbishop of Canterbury spoke of the need to resolve "internal tensions" within the Anglican Church. | Last weekend, the Archbishop of Canterbury spoke of the need to resolve "internal tensions" within the Anglican Church. |
| The conference, which began on 16 July, will conclude on Sunday after the 650 bishops from around the world join their spouses in a joint closing session followed by worship at Canterbury Cathedral. | The conference, which began on 16 July, will conclude on Sunday after the 650 bishops from around the world join their spouses in a joint closing session followed by worship at Canterbury Cathedral. |