The event, said Bishop Burton in his opening remarks, was intended to "prayerfully consider the future of our church" and was not intended "to promote t he establishment of another church or a structure within our church."

It was produced by Essentials, a coalition of conservative Anglican groups, at an approximate cost of $70,000, said producer Doug McKenzie. Traditionalists, who believe the Bible condemns homosexuality as sinful, have voiced concern for years about more liberal church attitudes toward gays. The concern became more vocal since the diocese of New Westminster in 2002 voted to permit the blessing of gay relationships and since the Episcopal Church in the United States last August confirmed the election of an openly-gay bishop.

The conference also featured Bishop Robert Duncan of Pittsburgh, who is leading a dissident coalition of churches in the U.S. opposed to Bishop Gene Robinson's election. Also appearing was Rev. David Short, a leader within the Anglican Communion in New Westminster, a group of parishes opposed to gay blessings. "The New Testament warns us that there are limits to our communion, " he said, addressing the question of whether this issue will split the Anglican Church.

(Based in England, the Anglican Communion is a federation of 38 national or regional churches.)

Also appearing were Rev. C. Dawn McDonald and Michel Schnob of Montreal, who said they were formerly homosexuals.

A member of the studio audience, Margaret Willoughby, of St. George's church in Lowville, Ont., said she found the conference interesting. "I appreciate the Anglican Church and it is helpful to know it is intellectually sound to believe in the accuracy of the Scriptures. I hope the Anglican Church carries on," she said in an interview.

Bishop Burton said one of the purposes of the conference was to "ignite a holy hope" that the Anglican Church would "return to the authority of Scripture." He also said that "part of what we are doing today is we are forming a network" of traditionalist Anglicans. The conference broadcast a telephone number for supporters to call and register their names and/or donate to Essentials.

Looking ahead to General Synod 04, Bishop Burton said that if the triennia l governing convention approves the blessing of same-sex relationships, the network will form a way that "Anglicans across the nation can demarcate them selves publicly and say '(General Synod) may agree with that but we do not.' "

Mr. Short said such an action would "affect all of us across the country... the same as the blessing of any other sin like idolatry."

END