That is putting it bluntly.

"The Panel is not there to redesign the Anglican Communion or change its doctrine and discipline. The acid test for the Panel will be whether the protection it offers proves adequate for those who are being harassed, oppressed, and forced to leave their jobs and their churches. Only time will tell whether the Panel is able to pass this test."

The recommendations of the panel will, we are sure, be a great help to the Archbishop of Canterbury in giving leadership to the Communion in repairing the tear in its fabric which led the Primates to call for these extraordinary measures, say Mainstream leaders.

Here are the panel names and what we know about them: Chairman: The Most Revd Dr Peter Carnley retiring Primate of the Anglican Church of Australia. He is the ultra-liberal archbishop of Australia and he will do his best to persuade the moderates to accept Western views on human sexuality. It is the opinion of this writer is that he is brilliant and therefore dangerous. He has more in common with Jack Spong than Jesus Christ. He will attempt to do as little as possible to alleviate the pain of orthodox refusing, he says, to be a "policeman", and will side with liberal and revisionist bishops when push comes to shove.

His Honour Michael Evans, QC, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Governing Body of the Church in Wales. Another liberal from a very liberal province. He can be expected to side with Carnley.

The Revd Dr Joseph Galgalo, Lecturer in Systematic and Contextual Theologies, St Paul’s United Theological College, Limuru, Kenya. He is considered orthodox, but even if he leans left he will brought up sharply by his archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi who has no use for Griswold. It was Nzimbi who said that Griswold and ECUSA's apology for consecrating Robinson did not make sense, the biblical word he said was repentance. The ECUSA has never repented.

Mr. Bernard Georges, Chancellor of the Province of the Indian Ocean. This province is orthodox and there is no reason to believe he would not be on the side of the angels. The Indian Province lost four primates in quick succession to car accidents and other unrelated matters, but it has no use for sodomy as an acceptable sexuality.

The Rt Revd Khotso Makhulu, CMG former Primate of Central Africa. At Oporto, Portugal the former Primate of Central Africa said this: "There has been a nudge forward from the mood at Lambeth to where we are now on the question of sexuality. It is my hope that we have halted or slowed down conservative ascendancy." Very liberal. Mercifully after he retired his place was taken by the orthodox Archbishop Bernard Malango.

The Revd Canon John Moore, former International Director of the Intercontinental Church Society (ICS) The Church of England. ICS is a Church of England mission agency and a member of Partnership for World Mission reaching international students for Christ. ICS is an international Church of England mission agency which seeks to make known the Christ of the Scriptures to people of any nationality who speak English. It has received the blessing of Lord Carey. But a source sauys that while Moore has the background he does not have teh backbone. "In public he supports, in private he is much weaker (or even destructive of Conservative Evangelicalism). As Chairman of the Church Pastoral Aid Society (CPAS) he led its move towards a much more open kind of evangelicalism. He'll be in favour of keeping the show together, at any cost," wrote a VirtueOnline reader.

Mrs Rubie Nottage, Chancellor of the Province of the West Indies. The Province of the West Indies is solidly orthodox under Archbishop Drexel Gomez. She can be counted among the angels.

The Rt Revd Claude Payne former Bishop of Texas. At one time he was a die-hard conservative. He even led the charge in 1990 and 1991 in the Diocese of Texas to institute the "freedom of choice" movement -- allowing each parish to decide for itself whether to send money to the national church. Over time he became a canonical fundamentalist. "By the end of his 10 years as bishop of Texas, Claude was a die-hard supporter of the corporation known as ECUSA. Don't count on him to line up with the Africans on this matter. He'll most likely do whatever Rowan Williams wants him to do. How tragic. And how predictable," wrote one person when he heard the news.

One of the greatest quotes from Claude Payne that a priest recalls was on the occasion of the meeting with 500+ of his congregation. "Flustered at the number of biblically literate disciples who where asking questions he couldn't answer...he finally yelled at the crowd saying "you can be a fundamentalist if you choose to be...even in the Episcopal Church". It was a very sad and pitiful sight to behold...for he has once, in my eyes, been a great leader. He was, wrote another, deeply in bondage to the institution, and that like any bondage, he would do anything to protect that which he is in bondage to. He will vote with Carnley and will do whatever Grsiwold wants him to do. "He is quintessentially a company man," said a retired bishop.

The Rt Revd Dr John Sentamu, Bishop of Birmingham was originally from Uganda. He is a moderate. He studied law at Makerere University. He is an Advocate of the High Court of Uganda. He left Uganda in 1974 and obtained a doctorate in theology at Cambridge University. He is a strong believer in evangelism and social justice. He is part of the CofE establishment and may not want to ruffle feathers, but he can be counted on to vote the right way, I have been told. He has a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Gloucestershire; Doctor of the University of Birmingham. "He has never nailed his colours to that (or any) mast. Don't be fooled by the fact that he's Ugandan, black, intelligent or charming with a great smile (all of which he is). His personal views rarely break cover, and he supports whatever status quo is in the lead at the time," said another source.

The Rt Revd Maurice Sinclair, former Primate of the Southern Cone. Solidly orthodox. He will make sure that if protection is available it will be. He will stand up to Carnley.

Mr. Robert Tong Member, Church Law Commission, Anglican Church of Australia and Chairman of the Council of the Anglican Church League, Australia. Another solidly orthodox person. Mr. Tong won't take any nonsense from Carnley. This is what he said in a newspaper interview in Australia: "Mr. Tong, a Sydney solicitor and close friend of Sydney Archbishop Peter Jensen, took a combative stance yesterday, saying that although Dr Carnley had given interviews suggesting how the panel would operate, the panel itself would decide that when it met." Carnley had better watch his shins.

The Revd Stephen Trott, Church Commissioner, the Church of England. Solidly orthodox. He will not tolerate any nonsense from the liberals.

Ms Fung Yi Wong, Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui, member of the Standing Committee of the Anglican Consultative Council. This is a liberal province, but of late it has shown itself to be a bit more conservative. Its Primate, the Most Rev. Peter Kwong has had heart problems which has prompted him to be a bit more conservative of late. Ms. Fung could be a pushover by Carnley, but we shall see.

From what we can discern the 13-member panel has four known liberals, including Carnley; several of uncertain persuasion; and at least seven persons who are conservative or mostly conservative. Four of the appointees have legal backgrounds.

On reviewing the panel, Sydney Archbishop Peter Jensen had this to say: “I believe it is important and urgent that effective steps be taken to assist those conservative Anglicans who hold to traditional views and are consequently at odds with their diocese.”

“I welcome the announcement by the Archbishop of Canterbury of the members of the Panel of Reference who will assist him in dealing with matters of dispute within the Anglican Communion. It is clear that Archbishop Williams and his advisors have worked diligently to form a panel that will represent all points of view within the wider communion. This diversity will ensure that all those involved in such difference of opinion will feel confident that they will be heard."

"I believe it is important and urgent that effective steps be taken to assist those conservative Anglicans who hold to traditional views and are consequently at odds with their diocese. I am hopeful that satisfactory relationships can be restored and they will be able to retain their property and succession of ministry.”

A spokeswoman for Dr Carnley, who resigned as Australian primate and archbishop of Perth two weeks ago, said that he had not yet been told who was on the panel and could not comment.

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