October 15th, 2003
Extraordinary Primates Meeting
Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams calls an extraordinary meeting of the Primates of the Communion to address the crisis precipitated by Gene Robinson's election. They conclude:
If his consecration proceeds, we recognise that we have reached a crucial and critical point in the life of the Anglican Communion and we have had to conclude that the future of the Communion itself will be put in jeopardy. In this case, the ministry of this one bishop will not be recognised by most of the Anglican world, and many provinces are likely to consider themselves to be out of Communion with the Episcopal Church (USA). This will tear the fabric of our Communion at its deepest level, and may lead to further division on this and further issues as provinces have to decide in consequence whether they can remain in communion with provinces that choose not to break communion with the Episcopal Church (USA).Following the Primates Meeting, the Archbishop of Canterbury established the Lambeth Commission on Communion "to discuss developments in the Anglican Episcopal churches of North America, which were of a controversial nature."