The man who speaks English, Seminole, Spanish, Latin and some French and Italian can't understand the word "no."

Wantland, who has a bachelor's degree from the University of Hawaii, a juris doctorate from Oklahoma City University and a doctor of religion from Geneva Theological College, won't sit down.

With nearly 18 million active Anglicans in Nigeria, Akinola's flock dwarfs the mother Church of England's membership. And since he is chairman of the 37 million-member Council of Anglican Provinces in Africa, when he speaks, far more than just Anglicans pay attention. Akinola has the strength of a lion, useful in confronting Third World fundamentalism and First World relativism.

"This is a more severe instance of what is happening on a smaller scale elsewhere" in the Episcopal Church, Bishop Frank Griswold, spiritual leader of the 2.4-million denomination, told The Florida Times-Union on Saturday. Griswold, 68, is in Jacksonville this weekend for a conference of senior American, Canadian and Cuban Episcopal priests.

He has said acceptance of homosexual practices "would be to call holy what God calls sin to be repented from".

Next month, Jensen will speak at a Christchurch conference called Communion in Crisis: The Way Forward for Evangelicals (Anglicans who see the scriptures as the ultimate authority within the church).