"We need to be steadfast in our commitment to explore, to understand, to bear witness to God's presence and love for all of God's creation, realizing in fact that this work on human sexuality is part of the mission of the church to our suffering and bewildered world."

The Anglican Communion has about 77 million people, about 2.3 million of whom are Episcopalians. Newark's Episcopal diocese, covering about 30,000 Episcopalians in northern New Jersey, is among the nation's most liberal.

"The question of whether the Anglican Communion as constituted can continue to serve the world in the service of God's mission is a deeper question worthy of time and conversation, but I would lay this question before you: Could there be a time at which point unity in the Anglican Communion becomes an idol?" Croneberger said on the first day of the diocese's 131st annual convention.

The Episcopal Church is far more liberal on gay rights than much of its London-based Anglican Communion, and in 2003 controversially consecrated an openly gay bishop and authorized blessings for same-sex unions in many dioceses.

Bishops in African countries that are more conservative on that issue have angrily moved to disassociate from the Episcopalians.

Croneberger's speech addressed a high-profile commission of the Anglican Communion whose October report criticized Episcopalians for consecrating the gay bishop V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire -- and said Episcopal bishops should stop letting priests bless same-sex unions.

At a meeting in Utah earlier this month, Croneberger said, most Episcopal bishops from across the country refused to approve such a moratorium on same-sex unions. They expressed regret that Robinson's consecration upset so many people, but they did not apologize for it.

Local church issues also came up yesterday, as attendees voted for diocese members who will have votes at the Episcopal church's 2006 triennial national meeting, known as their "general convention," and approved a $3 million diocesan budget for 2005.

Croneberger also praised new ministries in the diocese, and called for people at the convention priests and three lay people from each of the diocese's 114 churches to consider whether their own churches are fulfilling their religious missions.

He did not expound on his controversial November/December column in the diocesan newspaper that said as many as one third of the diocese's churches were struggling to stay open, and that the diocese should consider consolidating some so more money can be spent on ministry and less on building maintenance.

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