It comes after an outcry by evangelicals and Anglican churches in Africa at the ordination of a divorced gay father of two, the Right Rev Gene Robinson, as Bishop of New Hampshire. The commission's findings, which will not be published officially until October, will cause widespread dismay among liberals and Anglican-Catholics in the West, who will regard it as a sign of capitulation to the conservative evangelical lobby.

Dr Williams allowed churchgoers a rare glimpse into his anger and frustration at the way different interest groups have attempted to capture the moral high ground over gay debate during a question and answer session at the Greenbelt Christian arts festivals at Cheltenham racecourse.

First, liberals should put the idea of same-sex blessings on hold until the church's general convention re-examines the issue in two years. They also should agree that the diocese won't add any new same-sex clergy partners from outside Colorado during that time period, though gay clergy partners already here may continue their parish work.

Over the past weeks, All Saints' in Long Beach, St. James in Newport Beach and St. David's in North Hollywood renounced their membership in the national Episcopal Church and refused to recognize Bruno as their leader.

The break involved issues such as the national church's decision to ordain an openly gay priest as a bishop.