Warring Anglican bishops could be forced to confront each other in divorce-style "mediation" or conflict resolution, under proposals published today.

Theologians and canon lawyers responsible for drawing up the drafts of a new covenant, a document which is intended to re-unite the divided Anglican Communion around agreed practices and beliefs, have proposed that different forms of conflict resolution be examined to see if any might be suitable for use by Anglican bishops.

The document, drawn up after consultations with the bishops attending Lambeth Conference earlier this year, discusses the various types of conflict resolution that might be suitable.

Possible models include professionals involved in arbitration, mediation and reconciliation.

Other options could be diplomacy. Chinese community centres are also proposed as a model, along with a body similar to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa.

The suggestions are contained in a commentary on a recent draft of the covenant. The document says: "The systems of alternative dispute resolution all have positive elements; they also have their critics. The Anglican Communion has a lot to learn from such alternative models. It may be that the Communion can commit to a long term study of alternative dispute resolution practices."

The future for provinces that breach the covenant is stark, however. Sanctions spelled out include a "breaking of ecclesial communion", or "walking apart".

The latest bishop to suffer the effects of the row over gays that has engulfed Anglican provinces worldwide is Bishop Bob Duncan of Pittsburgh. He has been deposed after being accused of abandoning communion by leading his diocese out of The Episcopal Church. The diocese subsequently voted to affiliate with the province of the Southern Cone in Latin America, led by British-born primate, the Most Rev Gregory Venables. It became the second Episcopal diocese to do so, the first having been San Joaquin.

The actions by these conservative dioceses have precipitated costly litigation by The Episcopal Church which is determined to do all it can to get its properties back.

The document also reports the results of a survey, in which the overwhelming majority of Lambeth bishops professed themselves "very pleased" with the performance of the Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams.

The Lambeth Conference was considered a success for the leadership of Dr Williams because it did not result in immediate schism.