Archbishop sparks row after holding secret communion for gay clergy

Dr Rowan Williams reignited the row that is causing divisions within the Anglican Church after agreeing to hold a Eucharist for homosexual, lesbian, bisexual and transgender clergy.

Details of the service, attended by around 100 people, emerged yesterday, with the Archbishop said to have spoken openly about the future for gay people in the church.

His critics expressed anger that as well as choosing to give communion at the meeting, he also failed to seek permission from the Right Rev Richard Chartres before making an "incursion" on his patch.

They said Dr Williams risked being seen as discourteous, with suggestions from some quarters that he was close to breaching canon law.

The service was held at the end of last year (2007) in All Hallows by the Tower, a 7th Century church in the City of London, after the original venue, the liberal St Peter's Church in Belgravia, was "outed" on a hostile website.

The Bishop of London was not aware the meeting was taking place at All Hallows.

At the secret gathering, Dr Williams gave communion followed by a talk on "present realities and future possibilities for lesbians and gay men in the church".

Yesterday, questions were raised about the event by prominent church voices.

Chris Sugden, executive secretary of the evangelical movement Anglican Mainstream, said: "Who knew what when, and whether anybody asked permission or not is straining at a knat while swallowing a camel.

"The camel is the Archbishop celebrating a communion service with the call for people to repent of their sins and live a new life with those who clearly have no intention of changing their behaviour.

"It is an embarrassment to the Bishop of London who had previously told his synod it would not be taking place at St Peter's Church. When it took place elsewhere, it looked as if he had been withholding information."

The previous Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Carey, 72, who is more conservative than Dr Williams, told the Times: "I am sure that Rowan was acting for the very best of reasons viz. to show that he cares for all and wishes to hold minorities in the church.

"What would I have done? I would not have agreed to a private Eucharist; after all, the Eucharist by definition is open to all Christians.

"I am surprised to hear that the Bishop of London's permission was not sought... If that is so then it is a failure of courtesy but it could be a member of staff's fault."

The Rev Rod Thomas, chairman of the Church of England's influential Reform grouping, said: "There are two issues here - one is whether the Archbishop should have presided at this service in the first place.

"The fact he did was quite provocative for those that hold to a biblical position on homosexuality.

"I think it has been his desire to try to accommodate both sides of this debate that has led to the current break-up of the Anglican church. It has actually increased the sense of indiscipline.

"As far as consulting the Bishop, I think the norm is that you do, but if this had been an uncontroversial issue then nobody would have started questioning whether or not he had broken canon law."

Canon law states that "every bishop is within his diocese, the principal master, and to him belongs the right...of ordering, controlling and authorising all services in churches".

However, another section appears to exonerate Dr Williams, as it also allows ministers to invite a "priest or deacon" to serve in their church for up to seven days without telling the bishop.

A spokesman for the Archbishop of Canterbury at Lambeth Palace said: "It does not appear that he was in breach of canon law."

A spokesman for the Bishop of London, who is away for New Year, also played down the controversy, saying: "The extent to which the Bishop of London is annoyed has been exaggerated - he's not annoyed in fact and canon law was not broken.

"The whole thing seems to have been blown out of proportion."

However, a church source said: "I expect this goes against the grain of the Bishop of London because he is an orthodox Anglican, but he's also the sort of man who wouldn't want to cause a fuss."

The meeting was organised by the Clergy Consultation, a support group for gay clergy, ordinands and Anglican monks and nuns.

Secrecy was so tight that a list of names attending was sent to Lambeth Palace with orders that it be shredded as soon as Dr Williams had read it.

One of those present was gay priest Rev Colin Coward, of the gay pressure group Changing Attitude.

He told a national newspaper: "The consultation has always met in confidentiality of venue and time to preserve the safety of those who come."

The Rev Bertrand Olivier, vicar of All Hallows, added: "It's nothing to do with the Bishop. Why would the Bishop need to be told?"