Conservative Anglicans in Jerusalem to debate future in troubled communion

More than 1,000 conservative Anglicans are in Jerusalem for the opening of a major summit to determine their future within a fractured global Anglican Communion.

The Most Rev Peter Akinola, Primate of the Anglican Church of Nigeria, will formally welcome pilgrims to the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) on Sunday. Archbishop Akinola and other delegates arrived in the city on Thursday after they were forced to cut short their pre-conference in Jordan when the primate was delayed at the border.

Key Anglican pastors, teachers and leaders from across 25 countries will attend GAFCON, convened primarily by leaders from the Global South alarmed over pro-homosexuality elements within the worldwide Anglican Communion, in particular the US Episcopal Church and its consecration of the openly gay Bishop Gene Robinson in 2003.

Among the 300 bishops attending the seven-day conference is the Most Rev Henry Orombi, Primate of the Anglican Church of Uganda, who will deliver the keynote address, "Jesus Christ as Lord", on Monday.

A fierce critic of homosexuality, Archbishop Orombi last week hit out at reports of a service of blessing for two gay clergymen in an Anglican church in London in May. He described the service as "blasphemy" and said that respect for the Church of England would "erode unless we see a return to traditional teaching".

Renowned scholar and author of more than 25 books, Dr Os Guinness, will also speak on Monday on "The Gospel and Secularism".

On Tuesday afternoon, delegates will discuss an Anglican response to the HIV and Aids crisis led by the Rev Canon Vinay Samuel from Oxford and others.

Long-time critic of homosexuality and radical Islam, the Bishop of Rochester, the Rt Rev Michael Nazir-Ali will speak on 'The Nature and Future of the Anglican Communion'.

The weeklong conference includes visits to holy sites, including the Mount of Olives and Gethsemane.

Other sessions will explore the teachings of Jesus, leadership, evangelism and poverty.

Archbishop Greg Venables, Province of the Southern Cone, will deliver the keynote address, entitled "Jesus Christ is Lord", when the conference draws to a close next Sunday.