Bishops' summit boycott divides Church of England

London: The Church of England will be thrown into turmoil this summer following the decision of leading bishops to boycott a landmark Anglican summit in protest at the presence of pro-gay bishops.

In a move that marks a significant split in the established Church, at least three bishops, including the Rt Rev Michael Nazir-Ali, the Bishop of Rochester, will decline an invitation from Dr Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, to attend the Lambeth Conference.

Up to six more bishops are understood to be considering similar action because of Dr Williams's decision to allow controversial figures to be at the gathering of worldwide Anglican bishops, which meets only once in 10 years.

The boycott will intensify the row over gay clergy, which was reignited when The Sunday Telegraph disclosed last week that two gay priests had exchanged vows in a version of the marriage service.

It threatens to undermine the authority of the Archbishop, who is battling to maintain unity in the Church in the face of bitter rows over gay and women bishops.

He has been snubbed by 250 Anglican bishops, mainly from Africa, who are meeting this week at a rival conference in occupied Jerusalem.

Six bishops and about 60 clergy from the Church of England will be at the meeting at which Bishop Nazir-Ali will deliver a key-note address on the way ahead for the Anglican communion.

Rival conference

He will not go to the Lambeth Conference as he believes that it has been compromised by the inclusion of US leaders who consecrated the Anglican communion's first gay bishop.

Friends of Bishop Nazir-Ali, who is one of the most prominent and influential figures in the Church, said he has made the decision on a matter of principle.

He considers the Americans' action to have been "unscriptural" and "disobedient", and feels unable to meet those he holds responsible for causing the schism in the worldwide Church.

"The Lambeth Conference is a Eucharistic gathering where the bishops gather around the Lord's table to teach the common faith, and he doesn't see how he can do this," said a friend of the bishop.

Bishop Nazir-Ali was said to be surprised that the American bishops were invited to the meeting despite a recommendation in an official report, the Windsor report, that they should be excluded.

The bishop does not intend his absence to be seen as an act of disloyalty to the Archbishop, but rather as an attempt to stand for the traditional teaching of the Church.

The Rt Rev Pete Broadbent, the Bishop of Willesden, and the Rt Rev Wallace Benn, the Bishop of Lewes, will also be absent.

Bishop Benn said: "I'm not going because those who've torn the fabric of the Communion have been invited, and bishops from the missionary groups in America haven't. A group of English bishops has been unhappy at the invitation list and that the Archbishop of Canterbury has not called a Primates Meeting to consult about invitations and respond to the American Church statement on gay clergy."

Dr Williams has tried to maintain unity, but the "wedding" of two clerics, has exacerbated deep divisions. It prompted Reform, an evangelical group representing about 1,000 parishes, to warn that there would be a split in the Church unless swift action was taken to discipline the Rev Martin Dudley, the rector who conducted the service.