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No agreement on Church gay issue Way ahead found in Church gay row
(about 7 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. The Archbishop of Canterbury said the "pieces are on the board" to resolve the wrangling over homosexuality which threatens to split the Anglican Church.
The Lambeth Conference has been taking place amid controversy over homosexual clergy and same-sex unions. The announcement came on the last day of the Lambeth Conference, which has been overshadowed by the issue of gay clergy and same-sex unions.
About 200 bishops have boycotted the once-a-decade forum over the issue. About 200 bishops boycotted the once-a-decade forum over the row.
But the BBC's Robert Pigott says there are signs of support for a long-term strategy to prevent further disintegration. Dr Rowan Williams said there was a recognition, "though still with many questions", that a Covenant is needed.
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 BBC's Robert Pigott said there were signs of support for a long-term strategy to prevent further disintegration, but that the issue had brought the Church 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. "It seems that a number of groups of clergy 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 But Dr Williams said there was a recognition "though still with many questions" that a Covenant is needed and put forward an idea involving a "global church of inter-dependent communities".
He told the audience of 650 bishops from around the world it was important the Communion stayed together.
He said it needed to "embrace deeper and more solid ways of recognising and trusting each other", which can be a "grace not a burden".
In the months ahead it will be important to invite those absent from Lambeth to be involved Dr Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury
This would allow the Communion to be more than "an association of polite friends", Dr Williams said.
But he recognised there was still a lot of work to do and this was a longer term solution to the current controversy.
"In these days together we have not overcome our problems or reinvented our structures: that will still take time."
It is thought a meeting of primates will convene as early as possible next year.
"And in the months ahead it will be important to invite those absent from Lambeth to be involved in these next stages."
"We may not have put an end to all our problems - but the pieces are on the board," he said.
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.
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.