In February, the leaders of the world's churches - known as primates - met in Newry, Northern Ireland where the endorsement of same-sex relationships revealed a deep divide between North America and the rest of the world that some say may be permanent.

2. At the close of our meeting we spoke of our decision-making process and he asked to be present at the March 21 meeting. We declined and asked for a letter that I would read to all of you at the meeting.

3. Instead of allowing me to read our Bishop's response at our meeting, the Bishop elected to mail his letter to our members.

Each of the church's more than 100 dioceses elects its own bishop, but the national church, including a majority of its bishops, must consent to the election.

After 14 hours of deliberations, the bishops said they would withhold such consent to any person, gay or not, elected bishop between now and the church's next General Convention in mid-2006.

"This extraordinary moment in our common life offers the opportunity for extraordinary action," they declared.

The African churches are the fastest-growing in the worldwide Anglican Communion.

Nigerian Archbishop Peter Akinola said the bishops will weigh proposals to build new theology institutions to train its priests on theology consistent with African culture.