Senior Anglican Bishops to Join US Summit as Episcopal Split Rumoured

Two senior bishops in the Church of England are to fly to the US next month to take part in a summit of leading American conservatives as the Anglican Communion veers towards a split from the liberal leadership of the Episcopal Church in the US.

The Bishops of Durham and Winchester have received the “full blessing” of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, as they prepare to take part in the three-day consultation in Texas next month, The Telegraph has reported.

The meeting is expected to draw up plans to strengthen the conservative core in the US Church and may also debate the proposed introduction of “flying” primates who will oversee dioceses no longer wishing to have direct oversight from the liberal leadership of the Church.

The bishops are expected to urge conservative members of the US Church to remain within a broad-based group rather than make an official split to form a rival province under a primate from Africa or Asia.