“expresses what Jesus himself taught: .... working for that unity by humility and mutual submission”.

...in the end Luther also used "my authority" on interpretation...against The One Holy and Apostolic Catholic Church.

Anglicans now use the "authority" argument to support... homosexuality? :)

Joe, Norfolk, USA

"And Joshua said unto all the people [of Israel], . . . choose you this day whom ye will serve; . . . but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord"
(Josh. 24:2, 15).
Jesus said that he came to bring the sword of division, and that promise is coming to pass.

Mark, Maidstone, England

My challenge to the Puritans in our midst is to ask What did Jesus say? Apart from Matt.19:12, where he mentions the 'eunuchs born that way from their mother's womb', I can't see any words of Jesus about the state of homosexuality, which was not known by that name at the time of the Bible.

Father Ron Smith, Christchurch, New Zealand

Church unity that ends up supporting homophobia no thanks! If Rowan Williams is on the side of life he should be prepared to stand up to those who continue to perpetrate violence ... and if the cost is the schism so be it!

TJ Australia

Tim Collier, Brushgrove, Australia

The Bible has no authority...and...there is one thing more evil than evil and cursed by God...the defence of evil.

Hugh E Torrance, London , England

God, is everybody here homofobic or what? Guys, that is the 21 century....wake up!!!!!

eduardo leonardi, london, uk

Nineteen out of fifty-eight, roughly one-third. That doesn't seem like support.

Fred Temby, Ottawa Lake,

It is funny.... we use iPhones (2008) and still use religions going back to the time when messages where transferred by horse messengers. Time to upgrade to religion 2.0.
Btw: why had the Romans (yes, those guys of horse backs) a far more sensible approach to religion than today's people?

Ian, Zurich, Switzerland

It has been said that "if you will not stand for something, you will fall for anything". It has been a long time since I KNEW what the Anglican Church stood for. I believe that the Anglicans - read parishoners - must stand up and demand clarification and brave leadership. Williams is a bad joke.

Lynne Livingstone, Okanagan Falls, Canada

Let the Bible speak. See, Matthew 19:3-6; Genesis 19, Romans 1. ALL sex outside of marriage, defined between 1 man & 1 woman is condemned as immoral see Revelation 21:8. Preach the WHOLE counsel of the Word don't just give liberal man-made interpretation, which deceive and blind people from truth

Ms Ameyaw, Middx,

God does say in the Bible about homosexuality being an abomination and in the New Testament about how those who practice 'such things' will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Homosexuality is a sin - there are many sins - but to say that homosexuality is not a sin it a lie.

jenna, swindon , england

Of course this church is in rebellion against Yahweh the God of the Bible. The point here is that these are not just teachings but in fact they are innoxurable laws that when ignored bring on curses as shown in Lev 26, Deut 28, Mat 24:21 - 22, Dan 12:1, Jeremiah: 30:5-7, Dan 9:13 are in force today.

Jas, Alders , UK

I don't see why gay people are so discriminated by many christians!
After all Christianity is the religion of 'Love the one near you as yourself' (I translated it from german)... so... what does it matter if a person love an other of the same sex... it's always LOVE!!

Fabius, Hannover, Germany

Funny thing is, last time I read the Bible I looked real hard to find where Jesus said gays were horrible sinners who would fry in hell for sure. Couldn't find it. But I did find him condemning hypocrisy, greed, wealth, and selfishness. The anti-gay Christian crowd seems to have other priorities.

RW, Victoria, BC, Canada

I tell my kids not to steal but I really think it is fine to steal. I tell my kids not to smoke but I feel fine lighting up. The absurdity of the ABC is plain for all to see. YOU WILL ALWAYS ACT IN RELATION TO YOUR FEELINGS ON A SUBJECT. It is time for him to go,go go.

David, Portland, U.S.

CHRIST, who gives a DAMN what the church says or thinks about homosexuals?

I'm neither one nor the other, have (the right to) objections to both, and find it at best amusing to see them fight it out but at worst and when it goes on, and on, and on, DAMN tedious and pathetic.

Joe, Manchester,

Another group of 'christians' who haven't read the bible. So much for obeying the 'word' of God.

Farrukh, Woking,

I am new to this debate and am an atheist. However, as a mateer of interest, does it say somewhere in the bible that being gay is not allowed? secondly, if gay is not allowed why did God allow people to have gay feelings? Could a anti-gay Christian help me understand? Thanks.

Tim, Hong Kong, HK

Everybody is aware by now that Williams is an unstable headline hunter who should have been defrocked some years ago.

Matt, Naples, Italy

And so the Church of England continues its slide into obscurity and having taken on board the agendas of Western Society.The social engineers win again. Clearly Sir Humphrey Appleby (Yes, Prime MInister) was acting as a modern day prophet,"The Cof E is a social organisation and not a religious one."

Derek Chamberlain, Perth, Australia

Who on earth cares what they think? They believe in fairly tales; their views are irrelevant and not worth reporting.

Paul, Milton Keynes, UK

Gosh the Bishops supporters sure can spin. I thought it was only found in politics. From what I have read and heard the Anglican church will split. The liberals will go the way of all churches where they have the upper hand - they will slowly disappear as they become a social service organisation

Glen, Toronto,

So apparently there is a difference between his own espousals and when he speaks "ex cathedra" from the Bishop's Chair in Canterbury?

Glen, N, USA

That ONLY 19 of CofE bishops would sign the letter to The Times is hardly a ringing endorsement of Archbishop Williams. There are, after all, 53 of them in the House of Bishops! Those 19 actually constitute a MINORITY of CofE bishops support the Archbishop on the issue.

Bob Evans, Anaheim, California

What dignifies sex is that it is a three way partnership, the third partner being God. God will not be a partner in gay sex because he has called it an abomination, and he will not change his mind.

Paul, Sai Kung, Hong Kong

Would David from Cheshire's "authority of the Bible" include the authority of, for example, "Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything" (Colossians 3:22)? Or would it not? You can't have it both ways, David. Your insistence on the authority of the Bible is a way for you justify your prejudice.

David Patterson, San Francisco, USA

Latest statement read and understood. Permit me - as a now moribund "practising Anglican - to suggest that this "new" Anglican Church rename itself "the Heinz Group", in honour of a company of that name which sells 57 different varieties of excellent canned and bottled products worldwide. Thanks !.

Andrew, Maracay,

We need church leaders to put the authority of the Bible first, and those who will not to stand down from office.

david, cheshire, uk