THE Anglican Church was on the brink of a serious split last night after an American diocese announced that it intended to go ahead with the consecration of a gay bishop next month in spite of a declaration from the Church’s leaders that such a move would “tear the fabric of our communion at its deepest level”.

After a two-day emergency meeting at Lambeth Palace, the 37 primates said that the future of the Anglican Communion itself would be in jeopardy if Canon Gene Robinson’s consecration went ahead.

The unanimous statement was issued after Dr Rowan Williams had apparently pulled off his toughest diplomatic test so far as Archbishop of Canterbury in securing a deal between liberals and conservatives. But it ultimately only papered over the cracks that quickly burst wide open again with the declaration from New Hampshire that the consecration would proceed as planned.

Evangelical primates said after the Lambeth Palace meeting that that would lead to a serious rift as conservative provinces declared themselves “out of communion” with the Episcopal Church of the USA.

The Most Rev Gregory Venables, Archbishop of the Southern Cone, said some conservative provinces could go so far as to break communion also with liberal provinces that supported the American Church. “We have said this all along. The message is clear. If this consecration goes ahead, the Church will be torn apart.”

Privately, conservative primates were praying that Canon Robinson would follow the example of Dr Jeffrey John, who withdrew as Bishop-elect of Reading under similar pressure and some had been given“private indications” that he may reconsider.

But last night the New Hampshire diocese reaffirmed its belief that it had “faithfully and preyerfully considered and followed a Spirit-led process” in electing Canon Robinson. “We look forward to the consecration on November 2, believing that God has called him to this ministry.”

The statement also urged the Anglican primates to follow the 1998 Lambeth resolution calling for the Church to “listen to the experience of homosexual persons and . . . assure them that they are loved by God”.

The Most Rev Frank Griswold, primate of the American Church, had earlier repeatedly ducked questions about whether he personally would consecrate Canon Robinson. He was “scheduled to be there”, he said, but added: “All ordinations are provisional. It says ‘God willing’ on the invitation. Any number of things can happen.” He also said that he was “fully behind” the legal canonical process of the diocese and the province that had led to his election.

Speaking of the pressure on Canon Robinson to step down, the Rev Michael Hopkins, of the American gay and lesbian pressure group Integrity, said: “Gene Robinson would not be human if he did not give it thought.” But Canon Robinson was “well aware” of the likely furore even before he was nominated. The Most Rev Michael Peers, of the Church of Canada, said: “We have agreed to disagree, but there are dark days on the horizon.”

It was clear, however, that in spite of the remaining threat of fractured communion, full schism had been avoided. Dr Williams is to set up a commission to report within 12 months on the “dangers” of gay ordinations and same-sex blessings.

The primates also urged the liberal provinces to make “adequate provision” for episcopal oversight of “dissenting minorities”, after consultation with Dr Williams. This in effect mandates provinces to introduce “flying bishop” schemes such as that in England for the opponents of women priests, and could limit the damage caused by gay ordinations.

Dr Williams admitted, however: “Issues around homosexuality will continue to be difficult and divisive for the Anglican Communion, as they are for many Christians. It will continue to cause pain and anger and misunderstanding and resentment all round.”

The conservative Drexel Gomez of the West Indies, who was at his side, said the primates’ statement had been agreed in typical Anglican style and with “brutal honesty”. He said: “We came to this meeting knowing we had some very diverse views. Part of the success of our meeting was the abundance of Gospel grace, but also the inspirational leadership given to us by the Archbishop of Canterbury.”

The Rev Colin Coward, a leading liberal who is director of Changing Attitudes, said the statement was “better than I thought it was going to be”.

The conservatives were also claiming victory. Andrew Carey, son of the previous Archbishop of Canterbury, said that there was more in the document for the global South and the conservatives than for the liberals. “The statement is the best the primates of the global South could get. I could see a couple of them were very happy with the way things have gone.”

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