Read Ruth Gledhill's blog with full text of Archbishop's letter about the Gene Robinson invite

The gay American bishop Gene Robinson, whose consecration in 2003 brought the worldwide Church to the brink of schism, is to be invited to the Lambeth Conference of the Anglican Church next summer, The Times has learnt.

The decision to include the bishop on the guest list makes a boycott by bishops of the Nigerian Church more likely.

The Times understands that Bishop Gene will be able to attend meetings as an official guest but will not have the right to vote on motions at the conference - the meeting of leaders of the world wide Anglican communion which takes place every 10 years.

Martyn Minns, bishop of the conservative Convocation of Anglicans in North America, which is sponsored by the Church of Nigeria, remains off the Lambeth guest list.