The evangelicals, who base their argument on a literal reading of the scriptures, have been strongly opposed to the progressives, who say that Biblical teachings are open to interpretation.

"Their basic strategy is to throw dust in the air as to interpretation of the scripture which confuses people and allows them to advance their cause," Bruce Ballantine-Jones, senior minister of Jannali Anglican Church in Sydney's south, told the synod at its triennial meeting in Fremantle yesterday.

"Any sex outside marriage is sinful and that includes heterosexual and homosexual activity. The church has held this position for 2000 years and it has been the basis of its moral voice," Mr Ballantine-Jones said.

The Bishop of Western Sydney, Ivan Lee, said the church had opposed same-sex unions for centuries. "We don't hold this position as a matter of mere tradition but as the scriptures dictate," Bishop Lee said.

Progressives, however, said it was time the Anglican Church faced the realities of the 21st century and accepted that the church had a duty to interpret the Bible in the context of the modern churchgoer. "Every time we say something negative, we become complicit in the physical and emotional violence done to gay and lesbian people," said Reverend Jill Varcoe of the Canberra-Goulburn diocese.

Progressive lay representative Muriel Porter said the Anglican Church had changed its position many times on contentious issues, not least on contraception, giving tacit support in 1930 and openly backing the issue in 1958.

"Even St Thomas Aquinas condemned what are now many normal heterosexual practices as a form of sodomy and therefore a mortal sin," Mrs Porter said.

The decision on gays was a further victory for radical conservative Anglicans, who have already stopped a move to consecrate women bishops.

The General Synod also expressed regret over recent decisions by Anglicans in Canada and the US to break with the church over the issue.

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