The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams

The American and Canadian Churches were effectively suspended from the Anglican Communion last week for their refusal to repent of actions that have taken the Communion to the brink of schism.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, had warned in the previous week that they would face the consequences for their decisions to consecrate the Communion’s first active homosexual as bishop, and to authorise rites for same-sex blessings.

The two provinces have been asked to withdraw their members from the Anglican Consultative Council, one of the Instruments of Unity, until the next Lambeth Conference in 2008.

They have been asked to respond before the Conference on whether they intend to respect the traditional stance of the Communion on sexual issues and to respect their autonomy as part on an interdependent fellowship.

While the Communion has not formally split, it is assumed that the American and Canadian Churches will be expelled if they do not take action to abide by the call for a moratorium on appointing homosexual bishops and issuing same-sex rites.

Dr Williams said that it was important to make “space” for reflection, but added that there needed to be a clearer expression of repentance.

“Sometimes when there is a bit of space we can see more fairly what is being said,” the Archbishop said. “The North American Churches have been told, very clearly and very directly, about the potential costs of the decisions they have taken.

“Any lasting solution will require people to say, someway or another that they were wrong.”

The conservative Primates from the Global South welcomed the conclusions of the meeting, which reaffirmed the central authority of scripture. They have been asked to refrain from crossing provincial boundaries to provide Episcopal pastoral oversight, but the meeting recommended that the Archbishop of Canterbury appoint a panel of reference to supervise the adequacy of pastoral provisions.

As this newspaper revealed last week, the Primates’ Meeting recommended further work on the proposal for the establishment of an Anglican Covenant and the development of the role of the Archbishop of Canterbury and a possible Council of Advice. “We are cautious of any development which would seem to imply the creation of an international jurisdiction which could override our proper provincial autonomy,” the Communiqué said.

Reform, the group which represents conservative evangelicals, expressed relief at the outcome of the meeting. “So far from moving the worldwide communion towards schism, the Primates had acted to preserve unity,” a statement said.

Changing Attitude, a pro-gay organisation in the Church, urged the American and Canadian Churches not to agree to a temporary withdrawal but to continue to participate fully in the Anglican Consultative Council.