The Primates’ Meeting Starts

The Anglican primates’ meeting starts today in Northern Ireland.  It will deal with the Episcopal Church’s consecration of an openly-gay bishop, and with the authorization of same-sex union blessings in parts of the Anglican Church of Canada.  See this Associated Press story. 

This [UK] Telegraph article is also interesting:

The factions, which are as divided over the nature and purpose of
the Church as over homosexuality, are determined to defend their positions and a
formal separation could occur within months.

The Telegraph has learned that the conservatives are refusing to
take communion with the liberals and plan to boycott the daily services at the
meeting in a potent symbol of their divisions.

They are also plotting to rip up the official agenda when the
five-day meeting begins today because they suspect it has been designed to keep
confrontation to a minimum.

Officials fear that the liberals could stage a walkout if they
feel they are coming under unreasonable pressure from the conservatives.