Williams vow to resolve differences

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Giving a presidential address on the final day of the Lambeth Conference, Dr Rowan Williams put forward the idea of a "covenanted future" involving a "global church of inter-dependent communities".

The once-a-decade meeting of worldwide bishops has been dominated by the issue of gay clergy and same sex unions, which has threatened to tear the Church apart.

Disharmony has seen 200 bishops - a quarter of those invited - to stage a boycott.

On the final day of the two-week conference, being held at the University of Kent in Canterbury, Dr Williams said: "In these days together we have not overcome our problems or reinvented our structures: that will still take time."

But he said there was a recognition, "though still with many questions" that a Covenant is needed.

He said he intended to convene a meeting of primates as early as possible next year.

"We may not have put an end to all our problems - but the pieces are on the board," he said. "And in the months ahead it will be important to invite those absent from Lambeth to be involved in these next stages."

He said it was important the Communion stays together, "but not only as an association of polite friends."

He said it was important to "embrace deeper and more solid ways of recognising and trusting each other", which can be a "grace not a burden".