"We must now put the same effort into rebuilding broken relationships that we put into ending discrimination against some people in our church," Bishop Michael Ingham told the diocese's synod in North Vancouver.

The blessing of same-sex unions in Canada and the US episcopal church's ordination of an openly gay bishop has enraged Conservative Anglicans, particularly in Africa, and sparked concern it could lead to a breakup of the worldwide Anglican communion. The Canadian action came in response to the Windsor report issued by world church leaders last year that asked the British Columbia diocese to express regret over its 2002 decision to bless same-sex unions.

Eight of the diocese's 78 parishes now bless the unions of same-sex partners, which are not the same as civil same-sex marriages. Courts in seven of Canada's 10 provinces have ruled in favor of allowing same-sex marriages.

Under yesterday's measure, no additional parishes could perform the blessings until Canadian Anglicans convene their general synod - their highest decision-making body - in 2007. Parishes now performing them can continue to do so.

The proposal drew fire from both sides of the gay rights debate, but the synod defeated a measure that called for a full moratorium, and another that would have had no restrictions, before approving the compromise plan overwhelmingly.

The head of the Canadian Church, Archbishop Andrew Hutchison, praised the diocese's actions before the vote but acknowledged he did not know if a partial moratorium would be enough for Anglican hard-liners outside of Canada.

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