Key events in the row within the Anglican Communion over gay clergy and bishops

August 1998

Anglican bishops meeting at Lambeth Conference vote overwhelmingly to adopt a biblical approach to the issue of homosexuality, rejecting homosexual practice as "incompatible with Scripture", while condemning homophobia and urging priests to minister to all their flock sensitively, irrespective of sexuality.

The Conference resolution also rejects legitimising same-sex unions. More than 100 bishops dissent from the resolution.

June 2002

Canadian diocese of New Westminster (British Columbia) approves blessing of same-sex unions. In response, bishops from Africa, Asia and Latin America, representing more than one-third of worldwide members of the Anglican Communion) cut their relations with the diocese.

June 2003

Jeffrey John, a gay canon living a celibate life, is elected Bishop of Reading, but agrees to withdraw to avoid division in the church. Mr John was later installed as Dean of St Albans Cathedral.

August 2003

Members of the US Episcopal Church (Ecusa) elect Gene Robinson, an openly gay divorced father-of-two, as Bishop of New Hampshire, bringing more threats of a schism in the worldwide Communion. He was consecrated in October that year.

October 2003

Anglican leaders meet at Lambeth Palace to head off a schism on the issue, shortly before Mr Robinson's consecration - which they warn could split the Church. Primates set up the Lambeth Commission on Communion to examine the issue and make recommendations.

October 2004

Lambeth Commission publishes the Windsor Report, which calls for a moratorium on authorising same-sex blessing ceremonies and consecrating gay bishops, and for statements of regret from provinces that had breached the "bonds of Communion".

All 38 provinces should agree a Covenant to inhibit further schismatic developments, it adds. The Archbishop of Nigeria, Dr Peter Akinola, condemns the report for failing to demand "heartfelt repentance" from Canada and America

February 2005

Anglican Primates meeting at Newry in Northern Ireland back Windsor Report and ask both Canadian and US churches to "voluntarily withdraw" from the Communion's central governing body - and to repent for their past actions. Ecusa decides, in response, to suspend consecration of all new bishops, gay or straight

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