The Anglican crisis goes back to 2003, writes Patsy McGarry, Religious Affairs Correspondent.
The "Primates' Meeting" of worldwide Anglican leaders was established in 1978 by the then Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Donald Coggan. It was to be an opportunity for "leisurely thought, prayer and deep consultation" for Anglican leaders. In May 2003, the Primates' Meeting was at Gramado in Brazil, after which they issued a pastoral letter which noted that as a body they could not support the authorisation of public rites for the blessing of same-sex unions.
Within days it was announced that the diocese of New Westminster in Canada had authorised a rite for the blessing of same-sex unions. The following month, in the diocese of New Hampshire in the US, Canon Gene Robinson, a man openly living in a gay relationship, was elected bishop. His election was later endorsed by the General Convention of the Episcopal Church USA.
In the midst of this, there was an embarrassing experience for the head of the Anglican Communion, Archbishop Rowan Williams of Canterbury. In May of 2003 also, a celibate gay man, Canon Jeffrey John, was chosen to become Bishop of Reading in England. It transpired his nomination had the approval of Archbishop Williams.
Such was the outcry that Canon John felt impelled to decline the post. He was made Dean of St Alban's in north London last July.
The furore over the North Americans' same-sex decisions and the response to Canon John in England led to another Primates' Meeting being organised for Lambeth in London. It took place in October 2003. The primates reaffirmed traditional Anglican teaching on sexual ethics, as expressed by the Lambeth Conference 1998 Resolution 1.10, "as having moral force and commanding the respect of the Communion as its present position on these issues."
They warned that if the consecration of Bishop-elect Robinson went ahead in New Hampshire, and public rites for same sex blessings continued, "the future of the Communion itself will be put in jeopardy."
At the October 2003 Primates' Meeting, they asked the Archbishop of Canterbury to establish a commission, subsequently known as the Lambeth Commission on Communion, to advise on ways forward.
In November 2003, Canon Robinson was consecrated Bishop of New Hampshire.
Chaired by the Primate of All Ireland, Archbishop Robin Eames, the Lambeth Commission reported last October. The Windsor Report, as it became known, called on both North American dioceses to apologise for their actions and asked that they agree to a moratorium on further implementation of their decisions.
It also rebuked archbishops and bishops of other dioceses for their "uninvited interventions" in other provinces of the Communion related to these issues.
The Primates' Meeting this week at the Dromantine Centre near Newry was the first opportunity for the Anglican Primates to consider the Windsor Report together.
They also discussed the response of the Anglican Communion to the tsunami disaster, and the ongoing work of the Communion on HIV/AIDS, and on theological education.