If retired Bishop Vicky Gene Robinson (IX New Hampshire) wanted to have an up close and personal encounter with the Pope and get a snapshot for bragging rights, his missed his opportunity. Francis schmoozed with the crowd at 3339 Massachusetts Avenue NW, not at the White House at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

We are now a global family standing together to restore the Bible to the heart of the Anglican Communion with a strength and unity that comes from our common confession of the Lord Jesus Christ, not merely from historic institutional structures.

He wants them not only to acknowledge the rift but effectively formalise it by scaling the Anglican Communion back into a loosely linked organisation -- a step aides liken to "moving into separate bedrooms" rather than full-scale divorce.

But he is understood to fear that the confrontation will trigger an angry walk-out by traditionalist archbishops, particularly from Africa, which in turn could lead to "large chunks" of the Church of England itself breaking away.

After a six-month discussion, Trinity's members voted to officially merge their congregants and assets with Vintage, including their historic church building in the heart of Santa Monica. The beautiful white facility includes stained glass windows and an organ, a spacious sanctuary and balcony seating 600 people, 30 classrooms and offices, and a functioning preschool. Renamed Trinity House in honor of its givers, the building is now Vintage Church's second campus.