The global body had reaffirmed earlier this year that homosexuality is incompatible with Scripture while still calling on the church to minister to all people irrespective of sexual orientation.
"At a time when the Anglican Communion is calling for a 'listening process' on the issue of homosexuality, how does it make sense to exclude gay and lesbian people from the discussion?" Robinson said in a statement released by his office.
Robinson expressed "great disappointment" in Williams' decision, but the New Hampshire bishop may be invited to attend the Lambeth Conference as a guest, according to Kearon.
Currently, however, there is seemingly no intention to invite Minns as a guest.
"It is a very different situation," said Kearon, explaining that while Minns is a bishop, his consecration is not regular.
Minns had helped 11 Virginia churches that voted overwhelmingly to split with the Episcopal Church. He was installed to lead CANA congregations on May 5 by Nigerian Primate the Most Rev. Peter J. Akinola who was urged by U.S. Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori and Williams not to do.
Regarding his name not being on the Lambeth invitation list, Minns stated, "Depending on the response of The Episcopal Church to the Primates' communiqué by September 30, the situation may become even more complex. One thing is clear, a great deal can and will happen before next July."
Also not invited are bishops of the Anglican Mission in America (AMiA) and bishops from the Reformed Episcopal Church. Both groups are currently working together with CANA along with other dissident Anglicans in what Minns had called a "common cause partnership."
For those invited to Lambeth, Williams affirmed that their coming to the conference "does not commit [them] to accepting the position of others as necessarily a legitimate expression of Anglican doctrine and discipline."
"At a time when our common identity seems less clear that it once did," Williams wrote, "the temptation is to move further away from each other into those circles where we only related to those who completely agree with us. But the depth and seriousness of the issues that face us require us to discuss as fully and freely as we can, and no other forum offers the same opportunities for all to hear and consider, in the context of a common waiting on the Holy Spirit."
Lambeth 2008 is scheduled to be held 16 July to 4 August at the University of Kent.
