Former governor-general Peter Hollingworth has announced he will no longer continue clerical duties in the Anglican Church, after renewed pressure on him for his handling of child sex abuse allegations in the church.

"I wish to announce that earlier this week I notified the Anglican Archbishop of Melbourne that I will be returning my Permission to Officiate," he said in a statement.

However, Oulton said in a May 2 email to the diocese of Ontario that "a situation has arisen following the Electoral Synod" and an allegation had been received regarding Cliff.

"This allegation has been received by our Metropolitan Anne Germond and she has informed the bishops of the ecclesiastical province of its existence. The proper authorities have been informed," Oulton wrote.

Annual release of denominational statistics comes one week after PC(USA) Stated Clerk the Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson, II announced that he will step down from the post in June, more than a year before his term in office was set to conclude. Nelson has served as the denomination's top official between biannual General Assemblies for the past seven years.

"We are talking about people from the West, who have come to erode our values and identity. We commend those who went to Kigali and still talked against gay activities. We pray for them to continue being spiritually sensitive and know what they are supposed to do for the church to remain firm and focused," he said.