R-18 Anglican Church facing splits

Archbishop raises idea of split

The Anglican Church could be split into different sections in a bid to resolve the row over homosexuality, the Archbishop of Canterbury has said.

Analysis: Anglican schism nears realityThe decision by Anglican leaders to ask North American Churches to withdraw from a key body for three years appears to buy time to resolve the divide.

However, it is widely seen as a victory for the traditionalists...in a key passage, the communique says: "We request that the Episcopal Church (USA) and the Anglican Church of Canada voluntarily withdraw their members from the Anglican Consultative Council for the period leading up to the next Lambeth Conference" [the 10-yearly meeting of all Anglican bishops, due next in 2008].