Anglican call for gay 'inclusion'

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Anglican leaders from Scotland and Mexico are expected to call for gay people's full inclusion in the church, in a row which has split the Communion.

Their call is anticipated at a conference in Manchester Cathedral to promote "inclusive theology".

It follows last week's undertaking by the US Episcopal Church to modify its liberal approach to homosexuality.

Many African Anglicans threatened to leave the worldwide Communion after the first openly gay bishop was ordained.

Autonomous organisation

Archbishop Carlos Touche-Porter of Mexico, and Primus Idris Jones of the Scottish Episcopal Church, are taking part in the conference.

BBC religious affairs correspondent Robert Pigott said that their call will illustrate the determination of liberal Anglicans to prevent what they fear could be a traditionalist domination of the Communion.

He added that the Communion is delicately poised after the bishops of the American Episcopal Church agreed not to authorise liturgy for blessing same-sex relationships or to repeat the ordination of an actively gay bishop.

But the US church refused to provide an autonomous organisation for traditionalists in America.

It consecrated an openly gay bishop, Gene Robinson, in 2003, sparking protests from conservatives.

The two archbishops' intervention comes as Communion leaders prepare to respond collectively to the Americans' latest decision.

It is thought that were the US branch of the Communion to leave or be expelled, it would take several other liberal national churches with it, possibly including both Mexico and Scotland.