The warring factions of the Anglican Communion will come face to face for a summit in Tanzania with the issue of gay clergy set to take centre stage.
The summit will open on Wednesday in Dar Es Salaam with a schism being predicted by various media following intense clashing over the past few years between traditionalists in Africa, Asia and Latin America, and liberalising Churches in areas of the West.During a recent documentary, the spiritual head of the 77-million member worldwide Anglican Communion, Dr Rowan Williams explained that he feared a schism.
The Archbishop of Canterbury said, "I fear schism. Because I am an ordinary sinful human being, I fear the situation is slipping out of my control."
The summit will take place from 14-19 February, with the controversial Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church in the USA (ECUSA), Katharine Jefferts Schori also set to take part in talks.
Bishop Schori, who leads the 2.4-million members of the ECUSA, has angered Anglican leaders across the world by openly offering her backing for same-sex unions, as well as declaring in one interview that she does not believe that Jesus Christ is the only way to God.
The controversial leader has brought about such a furore since her instalment last year, that approximately 250 ECUSA member churches have left her leadership, and many outraged traditionalists have even threatened to snub her at the upcoming meeting.
Offering refuge to Episcopal followers in the US that do not share Bishop Schori's views, Nigeria's Archbishop Peter Akinola, has helped oversee the setting up of the Convocation of Anglicans in North America (CANA) - the US missionary branch of the Anglican Church of Nigeria.
At least 45 parishes have departed from Bishop Schori to join the CANA, however, commentators are saying that the next big crisis for the Anglican Communion is just around the corner, as the San Joaquin diocese in California, has also recently voted to depart from the ECUSA. If the move takes place it will be the first entire diocese to leave the core Anglican Church in the USA.
It is expected that this week's meeting will see Archbishop Williams try to steer members towards laying loosely in communion for one more year at least, until the Church's 10-year gathering at the Lambeth Conference 2008.
John Wilkins, former Anglican and retired editor of the Catholic weekly The Tablet, has said: "But he is between a rock and a hard place. His aim will be to prevent anything irreparable. But it will be very, very difficult," according to the Scotsman.
