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The Lambeth Conference, a once-a-decade conclave of the Anglican Communion (which includes the U.S.'s Episcopal Church) concluded last month amidst rancor over homosexuality. The Anglican Church has faced the threat of lasting schism as breakaway congregations, largely in Africa but joined by some in the U.S. and elsewhere, denounce the denomination's move towards ordaining gay clergy and growing acceptance of homosexuality.

Conference officials, in efforts to forestall protest, banned Gene Robinson, a gay priest who became Bishop of New Hampshire in 2003, from official participation in the bishops' conference. The move seems to have backfired as the ban itself became a symbol of church intolerance. South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu pleaded for greater toleration in the church divided over the issue of consecrating openly-gay clergy.

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"The Anglican church prides itself -- and this is one of its greatest attributes -- it prides itself on being the church that is comprehensive, meaning that it includes all kinds of points of view," Tutu told Sky News television. "One of the sadnesses about the current crisis is that we seem to be jettisoning this wonderful inclusivity that is a characteristic of our church," noted the 76-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner.

Davis Mac-Illaya, a gay Nigerian activist, attended the conference along with gay activists from a half-dozen African nations. "Homosexuality does exist in Africa -- it's not a Western thing, as our African bishops would want people to believe," Mac-Illaya told reporters. Mac-Illaya has faced death threats for his 2005 role as founder of the Nigerian branch of Changing Attitude, described by the BBC as "an Anglican pressure group that campaigns for the full inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in the life of the church."

Predictably, conservative voices condemned even discussion of tolerance of homosexuality. The Jamaica Gleaner denounced "purple shirted flatulence," stating "Anglicans have lost enough time on the issue of homosexuality. The two opposing views on homosexuality are incompatible. There is no middle ground. There has been enough talk. There comes a time when schism is far better than heresy."

For more information about Changing Attitude, visit Changingattitude.org