The issue is access to the Anglican Communion. The Communion is an institution which is rooted in hierarchy, focussed in the Archbishop of Canterbury, the primus inter pares. He has the authority to call, direct and lead the bishops of the Communion. His authority is institutional and customary, but neither legal nor theological. Such authority is intangible, but has in normal times been sufficient to secure the co-operation of 800 bishops. This authority is his main asset. He commands neither large resources nor numerous officials. But he can use the moral authority of his office to influence and persuade. He also has one specific power: he and only he has the authority to convene a meeting of the Bishops of the Anglican Communion.

The Archbishop's authority to convene is very significant. He is the sole inviter to the Lambeth Conference. No committee advises him. No scrutiny takes place. So when the response to the invitation is stalled, deferred or in other ways delayed, this can be seen as a significant challenge to this customary authority. The Archbishop asked people to reply by July 31. So far the replies are in the order of 200 plus, which most likely includes the 100 from the USA who were asked to reply early.

There are those who downplay the significance of this delay in replying, fearful of its effect on the Archbishop's authority. Sue Parks, the conference manager, has said that registrations would be accepted "continuously over the next several months". The Rev Jim Rosenthal, communications director of the Anglican Communion Office, has said "We know from a number of people who have contacted us that post can take weeks to reach its destination - in each direction". (Church Times August 17). Downplaying the delay is intended to diminish the significance of deferred responses. The one thing the Archbishop of Canterbury does uniquely is to invite to the Lambeth Conference. The one method of challenging his policies, i.e. to invite the consecrators of Gene Robinson to Lambeth, his role and his customary authority is to delay responding to his invitation.

What is happening is the rejection of customary hierarchy for its failure to protect not just the vulnerable in the institution but those who are its mainstream. The message is being put across that parts of hierarchy are disconnected from the Communion's mainstream and life-blood. The Anglican Communion needs to be rescued from disconnected, atrophied leadership.

So what happens next? How long can Lambeth's policy of "masterly inactivity" be maintained? As Bishop Bob Duncan noted, Dr Williams has done and said nothing so far to protect the orthodox in the United States . Will he disinvite the consecrators of Gene Robinson ( which the Archbishop of Uganda has indicated is his sticking point)? Will he invite all the Bishops of Rwanda , Nigeria , Kenya and Uganda who now include Bishops consecrated by them for North America ? Will he decide, despite the possible financial loss of the deposit to the University of Kent where Lambeth 2008 is to be held, to defer the Conference? Will he conclude that there will be less risk in refusing to make Lambeth 2008 the occasion for a decisive showdown and urge that such is the state of dissension in the Communion that more preparation ( talks about talks) needs to take place before a united Communion conference can take place?

Such a strategy would avoid what could be an embarrassing humiliation - but it would also leave a vacuum. If the Archbishop of Canterbury cannot gather the Anglican Communion, who can? The Episcopal Church ( of the USA ) would like to try. Their name change at General Convention 2006 indicted a global strategy as The Episcopal Church. After all, they have provided the money that has kept the liberal elite in power in the Communion hierarchy for a number of years now. The TEC may decide that now is the time to come out from behind the curtain and give leadership to a global liberal Anglican Church focused on the Millennial Goals and inclusive sexuality. The TEC has succeeded in summoning the Archbishop of Canterbury to treat with them on their turf in September.

If that is what happens, then the Church of England will be seriously affected. It is a great game with much at stake.

---The Rev. Dr. Chris Sugden writes for Anglican Mainstream. He wrote this piece for Evangelicals Now