"It has never been contemplated that we should assume the functions of a general synod of all the churches in full communion with the Church of England, and take upon ourselves to enact canons that should be binding upon those here represented. We merely propose to discuss matters of practical interest, and pronounce what we deem expedient in resolutions which may serve as safe guides to future action."

Some Anglicans in the USA ignored Lambeth 1.10 and consecrated a man in a same-sex partnership as a bishop. So 2,000 orthodox Anglicans met at the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) in Jerusalem in June 2008 which re-prioritised mission based on the Biblical gospel, and identified the core problem facing the church not as homosexuality per se, but the capitulation of some Western church leaders to secular ideologies. Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda did not attend Lambeth 2008.

Thirteen times since 1867, the bishops of Anglicanism have gathered as a collegial body to debate the faith. They seek a common mind on how best to guide the Communion in matters of faith and morals, ruling on questions of theology, doctrine, ecclesiology, administration, discipline, politics, the marriage bed, children, social justice and other weighty issues facing them.

The most recent extended expression of the church's position was in 1994, when Resolution A054 concluded with the words: "Resolved, That this 71st General Convention of the Episcopal Church express its unequivocal opposition to any legislative, executive or judicial action on the part of local, state or national governments that abridges the right of a woman to reach an informed decision about the termination of pregnancy or that would limit the access of a woman to safe means of acting on he