He denies that his church is in a moment of crisis, pointing to a survey that shows satisfaction by a majority of congregants. If there is division, he says, it is because of a conservative element that is pushing an anti-homosexual agenda. That view was affirmed by a resolution at the 1998 Lambeth Conference, a gathering of bishops convened every 10 years by the Archbishop of Canterbury, the recognized leader of the communion. Anglicans in the traditional mission fields of Africa and Asia, where rapidly growing churches largely adhere to established doctrine, were behind an overwhelming 526 to 70 vote in favor of the resolution. The Lambeth resolution, however, carries the weight of moral authority rather than church law, because the Anglican Communion is a loose affiliation of national churches without a top-down structure as with the Catholic Church.
National churches establish their own doctrine and practice.
Though the Episcopal Church narrowly has upheld a traditional stance on the issue, many parishes and dioceses have felt at liberty to disregard the Lambeth resolution and continue ordaining practicing homosexuals and celebrating same-sex unions. Though they may not take such a drastic measure, observers of Anglican polity agree that the issue of how to respond to the Episcopal Church has been heightened by the controversial consecrations of two American bishops in Singapore on January 29. An international group of archbishops and bishops took the extraordinary step of consecrating John Rodgers and Charles Murphy as missionaries to the U.S. from South East Asia and Rwanda respectively. The move sent shock waves throughout the communion. Even conservative leaders, sympathetic to the aim of returning the church to its foundation, publicly have expressed opposition to the Singapore consecrations, including, most importantly, Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey.