The head of the Anglican Communion on Sunday said that work will
continue to bridge deep differences within the global fellowship, but he
says it will be a lengthy process.
Rowan Williams, the Archbishop
of Canterbury, spoke at the end of a five-day conference in Ireland's
capital, Dublin, which was notable for the absence of several
conservative African bishops who refused to join a forum which included
the head of the U.S. Episcopal Church.
"The fact remains that
two-thirds of the body of primates is present, and something like
three-fourths or something more expressed their willingness to be
present," Williams said.
The unity of the communion has been
severely strained by moves in the United States to first appoint an
openly gay priest as a bishop, and then by the elevation of a lesbian to
serve as a bishop.
"Of course there is a critical situation in the communion. Nobody would deny that," Williams said.
"But
that critical situation has not ended the relationships, often very
cordial and constructive, among the churches of the communion," he
added.
Bernard Ntahoturi, the Anglican archbishop of Burundi, said the absent archbishops had not withdrawn from the communion.
"They
are still members of the Anglican Communion," he said. "Not attending
physically does not mean that you are not participating in the life of
the community."
Williams said the Dublin meeting worked to define
the role and responsibilities of the primates, and he said efforts to
repair division will continue.
"It's a long task," he added.