"Lambeth did get it right," Dr Thompson said. "For almost 2000 years Scripture has been unambiguous. Is it not our own postmodern culture that has caused us to question this?"

Lecturer in Ethics at Moore, Dr Andrew Cameron, urged the Synod to remember that "Christians have always understood that sexuality has been purposed towards marriage".

The General Secretary of General Synod the Rev Dr Bruce Kaye, who moved four motions on the issue, said "the subject matter draws to the surface differences of theological conviction about which we feel very strongly."

Bishop Graham Rutherford from Newcastle likened church debates on sexuality to 'playing a game of tennis on separate courts'. "For much of the debate [we] play on separate courts with a different interpretation of the Bible", he said. "It's not enough just to wrestle with the Scriptures. We need to allow the stories of people to move us beyond abstract ideas and concepts. It comes across as 'we love you, but we condemn you' - hardly the loving response of Jesus."

Bishop of Armidale Peter Brain said the issue was about life, death and salvation. "If we get it wrong sexually [it] can lead to condemnation."

The Synod passed three motions, voting not to condone the blessing of same-sex relationships or ordain people in 'open committed same sex relationships'. Christians of homosexual orientation are expected to remain celibate, as are non-married heterosexual Christians.

The development comes just 11 days before a report from the Archbishop of Canterbury, announcing the church's response to a move by the Episcopal Church of the United States to appoint an openly gay man as a Bishop, and the Canadian Church's blessings of same-sex couples.

The Synod also congratulated Federal Parliament's recent move, 'clarifying that marriage, at law in this country, is the union of a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life'.

END