The Anglican Churches risk "unravelling and dividing" over homosexuality, a leading bishop has warned. As the 750 bishops of the worldwide Anglican Communion prepare to debate resolutions relating to gays and the Church, serious division are already showing, particularly between Western and African clergy.
The resolutions show deep splits over how homosexuality is viewed, with leading Western bishops calling for the blessing of same-sex unions in Anglican Churches while their African counterparts want homosexuality declared a sin.
A sub-committee dealing with the issue has seen some of the fiercest and most passionate debate of the three-week conference.
Even their final report was not accepted unanimously by the committee. A fifth of bishops on the 60-strong section refused to endorse the sentiments expressed.
The conservative Bishop of North Sydney, the Right Rev Paul Barnett, a member of the committee, said: "The Anglican Communion has always viewed itself as one catholic church and my own belief is that if certain priests don't take note carefully of the expressions in the resolution and continue to bless same-sex unions it will lead to very serious disunity and division.
"The unity and future of the Communion depends on that advice being heeded," he said.