You have denied the authority of scripture ("the Church wrote the Bible, and the Church can rewrite it"), the divinity of Christ ("he is a forgiven sinner"), and the arrangements of the last meeting of the House of Bishops (Delegated Episcopal Pastoral Oversight - "it will never happen here.")

The statement, which Bishop Harvey read as he was flanked by eight other bishops on a stage on the synod floor, took many delegates by surprise coming as it did after the night prayers just as they were ready to leave the plenary hall.

Primate-elect Andrew Hutchison said he was “obviously very disappointed to hear that kind of statement because it speaks of division.”

Delegates to a national church meeting handed the victory to supporters of gays and lesbians as a consolation prize the morning after they voted to delay any national go-ahead on church blessing ceremonies for same-sex couples till 2007 and possibly 2010.

The "integrity and sanctity" measure was approved by a show of hands.

One delegate tried to change the language of the amendment to “affirm and love those who are in same-sex relationships”, but that effort was voted down.

In church language, “sanctity” means “blessed”, “holy”, or “sacred”. It is twice used in the Anglican Book of Common Prayer in relation to marriage ceremonies.

But Rev. Garth Bulmer, mover of the amendment, told Synod he didn’t intend for “sanctity” to hold any theological meaning.