TWO archbishops in the Anglican Church last night called on Dr Jeffrey John, the gay theologian, to stand down as the new Bishop of Reading, issuing further warnings of schism if his consecration went ahead.

But another archbishop, from Africa, said that his province would not be threatening schism and spoke in support of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, as the “focus of unity” of the Church.

The Most Rev Njongonkulu Ndungane, who succeeded Desmond Tutu as Archbishop of Cape Town, said: “There has been mention of a possible schism but I can assure you the Church has withstood far worse without falling apart.”

He called on his fellow primates to focus on more urgent matters. “I fully agree with the Archbishop of Canterbury that we dare not become preoccupied with the sexuality issue. We must focus on mission. We are faced with matters of life and death. Seventy-five per cent of the world’s people who are living with HIV and Aids are in sub-Saharan Africa.”

But threats of schism continued as the Most Rev Drexel Gomez, the Archbishop of the West Indies, and Bishop Gregory Venables, Presiding Bishop of the Southern Cone, urged Dr John to stand down.

They made their demand after a meeting in Oxford between evangelical clergy of the diocese and Anglican leaders from around the world. It included leaders of the Church of England Evangelical Council and the conservative group Reform, as well as the American Anglican Council.

Afterwards the 35 evangelical church leaders said: “We urge Dr Jeffrey John to withdraw his acceptance. This appointment flouts the mainstream Anglican teaching on human sexuality. We believe that if he is consecrated, the unity of the Church of England and Anglican Communion will be disrupted.”

Other conservatives from America, England and the developing world held separate meetings in London yesterday, with more scheduled for today. One insider said: “There are lots of conversations going on about how to respond. But the meetings are so important they have gone underground.”

He predicted a “realignment” of the provinces in the developing world with those in the West prepared to take a conservative biblical line on sexuality. “It would be a confessional alignment rather than a hierarchical one,” he said.

While churches in the developing world were reluctant to give up the Anglican fellowship, they were not prepared to be “intimidated” into embracing liberal values.

The Jeffrey John debate was only one of three issues threatening to split the Church, the source said. The others were the same-sex blessings now authorised in New Westminster, Canada, and the election of Canon Gene Robinson, an openly gay man, as Bishop of New Hampshire in America. “There is a flurry of activity and the conservative archbishops are all talking to each other,” the source said.

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