This collaboration came to an end, sadly, after General Convention 2003. Now it would seem that these chaplaincies are to be established not under the authority of the American Anglican jurisdiction, but of Nigeria. The need remains, certainly, and we should be sympathetic. However there will now be yet another problem of jurisdiction, one more step toward the breakup of the Anglican Communion.

The fourth argument is that there are feminine or maternal images in Scripture as well as masculine images, and the presence of these feminine images legitimate feminine references for God. Thus, we can call God Mother equally as validly as Father. It is true that there are feminine images in Scripture, but the reality is that there are exceedingly few.

The other very important resource I have recently discovered is Maggie Gallagher's Institute for Marriage and Public Policy VA, US, which can be located at http://www.marriagedebate.com. I appreciate how Dr Gallagher facilitates discussion about these important issues by allowing the posting of responses - favourable and otherwise - to her material. I have read some fascinating exchanges of ideas over the months.

In defiance of directives from the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, titular head of the worldwide Anglican church (known as Episcopal Church in the U.S.) and despite protests of bishops the world over, ECUSA bishops approved Robinson's election soon afterwards. This renders the denomination "formally heretical," according to conservative theologian Kendall Harmon, who also edits the Anglican Digest.