Archbishop of Canterbury: Lambeth Conference won't solve church's problems

By Martin Beckford
Religious Affairs Correspondent
17/07/2008

The Archbishop of Canterbury has admitted that the crises in the "wounded" church will not be ended by the gathering of Anglican bishops which began this week.

Dr Rowan Williams said at the start of the ten-yearly Lambeth Conference that he felt "great grief" that one in four church leaders are boycotting it because of deep divisions over homosexuality and women bishops.

But he added that he still respected the conservatives who are staying away, and urged delegates at the first session of the meeting in Canterbury on Wednesday night to "mend relations that have been hurt".

More than 200 Anglican bishops from around the world, including many from Africa and at least three from within the Church of England, have refused to attend Lambeth because of the presence of liberal leaders from America and Canada who broke with tradition and church guidelines by electing an openly gay bishop and by blessing same-sex unions. the rest

ACNS: The Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams opens the Lambeth Conference