Church acts to end split over gay clergy

The Church of England today moved to stop a split over gay appointments to the clergy.

The General Synod is debating a motion put forward by the Bishop of Durham urging unity.

A split developed worldwide last year when Canadians voted to approve same-sex marriages and US Anglicans consecrated gay bishop Gene Robinson.

The Windsor Report was commissioned in Britain to consider the impact of the measures but clergy remain deeply divided.

Gay cleric Jeffrey John was forced to step down as Bishop of Reading two years ago after protests from a conservative lobby group. His appointment as Dean of St Albans last summer created further "dismay" among some Anglicans.

Meanwhile, reports today suggest that pro-gay liberals have been ruled out of the running to become the next Archbishop of York.

This month 38 heads of the Anglican Communion will meet in Belfast, where the Synod will put forward the Church's response to the crisis. General secretary of the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement, the Rev Richard Kirker, has called for a major change in its stance.