The communique from the Primates' Meeting in Newry has received a lukewarm response from senior Church of Ireland figures. Bishop Richard Clarke of Meath and Kildare said last night the meeting had no judicial role and had no authority to speak for the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC).
He said he was "puzzled" that the Primates' Meeting, which was started to allow time for prayer and reflection, appeared to be taking on a new role.
Bishop Paul Colton of Cork questioned whether the meeting had exceeded its powers. "I believe it is an anxiety of many within Anglicanism that the Primates' Meeting is taking on a life of its own which is not supported either by the traditional understanding of the Church, or of Church laws across the Anglican Communion," he said.
That the communique was viewed so widely as a decision about the way forward reflects the lack of clarity around the primates' collective role, he added.
"We all need to be reminded that bishops are not the sum total of the Church. The Church is people - lay and ordained (only some of whom are bishops) - who have decision-making authority about issues such as this, together in the Synod," he said.
Bishop Michael Mayes of Limerick said focus had been placed on certain issues, mainly the ordination of Canon Gene Robinson.
He said he was "concerned that they are appearing to ask people not to act until everyone is agreed," adding that in the past this had not been the procedure.
"I know the Bishop Robinson issue was contentious, but it certainly has focused minds, and for the first time they are trying to grapple with it."
The Archdeacon of Dublin, the Ven David Pierpoint, said it was a pity that so much time was given to the issue of sexuality at the expense of other deserving issues such as AIDS, TB and malaria. He said he was hopeful this issue would not cause a split between the US and Canada and the rest of the Communion.