The Lambeth Conference has been told of the negative effects of the consecration of a practising homosexual bishop and the open blessing of same-sex relationships, including the Anglican church being ridiculed as “the gay church”.

The final document emerging from the Lambeth discussion groups says as a result, partnership in mission has been lost and damaged, and some provinces have experienced a “betrayal of the teaching of the missionaries who brought the faith, and it is experienced as a new form of Colonisation”.

Some groups reported what were described as “positive effects”, but the fourth draft of the final document lists 10 negatives, including the loss of membership because of ridicule.

In what appears to be a contradictory section of the document, some call for decisive action " others for more ‘listening’.

One statement on the issue of homosexual practice says “there has not been enough time to allow for the Bishops of the Communion to come to a new consensus within Provinces or worldwide " either to agree, or to live together in disagreement”.

In his final sermon and at the closing news conference, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, stressed there had been no decisions reached.

“While it has not made any conclusive determinations, it is has not evaded the difficult questions. That does not cause me to lose sleep because the Lambeth Conference has never been the kind of body to make executive decisions.”

The Archbishop referred to upcoming meetings of the Anglican Consultative Council and a primates meeting but said that of gathering “There is no particular agenda except that we have not had one. We regularly have one every two years and it is time for another.”

The conference ended amid negative comments from many orthodox bishops, including the Primate of the Southern Cone, Archbishop Gregory Venables who said he was disappointed with the discussion groups.

Archbishop Venables, one of the GAFCON leaders, told Anglican TV: “We haven’t talked about the Gospel, we haven’t talked about salvation and we haven’t talked about the fact that the mission of the church is to proclaim the one hope that we have in the world, the Lord Jesus Christ. The fact that we have missed the very central message of Christianity says a lot about what is happening in the Anglican Communion…”

The Archbishop says the two weeks of talking was not able to realise progress.

“I would hate to see the Anglican Communion finish. I hope there’s a way we can all remain as Anglicans together….I’m not hopeful.  I do not really believe that we are moving towards a situation in Anglicanism when we really are going to be able to put this thing back together again…I think the toothpaste has been squeezed out of the tube and I don’t think we can put it back. I think whatever is coming up will look very different and will be very different.”

Revisionists put up ‘Great Wall’

The Archbishop’s comments were echoed by one of the leaders of the Global South movement " the Primate of the Middle East, Mouneer Anis.

“From my experience of the Bible studies and of the Indaba discussions, I see a great wall being put up by revisionists against those orthodox who believe in the authority of Scripture. The revisionists among us push upon us the view that current secular culture and not the Bible should shape our mission and morals. In this we are not divided by mere trivialities, or issues on the periphery of faith, but on essentials. I am shocked to say that we are finding it very hard to come together on even the essentials of the faith we once received from the Apostles.”

Bishop Mouneer was another who noted the presence of activists supported by some North American leaders.

“Everywhere we go here, we meet gay and lesbian activists, receive their newsletters or read about their many events. They are intent to push their agenda on us. No other lobbying groups seem to enjoy similar access, or to be able to have their literature prominently displayed all over the campus and at the entrance to every residence. They are determined that their way is the only right way and that everyone else should follow. They are not at all open to listening to us or the historic church teaching. Yet, it is surprising that they push all these sexuality issues so intensively into the conference and then blame us for talking about them too much!”

Earlier, New Zealand Bishop Richard Ellena of Nelson expressed sadness than any positive effects will be overwhelmed by the negatives.

“.... I am more convinced than ever that none of this will help us. Those who have stayed away will not agree to it and will continue their ministry in the States. And TEC (The Episcopal Church in the US) will continue to bleat that they won't follow the moratoria while these Africans continue to ignore it. The draft statement that will be released is so full of generalisations it says absolutely nothing. I am deeply dismayed at the spinelessness of the Communion.”

Bishop Ellena says he will be “actively building relationships with the Global South, which looks as if it will expand and grow beyond this Lambeth to include evangelical bishops from all around the world.”