Canon Cameron said the decision it was about to make was "about as serious as it could get".

His comments reflected the growing fears of Anglican leaders that their
efforts to avert schism over homosexuality would be "holed below the
waterline" if the Canadians permitted gay blessings.

But the intervention by Canon Cameron, who was effectively acting as Dr Rowan Williams's envoy, angered many Canadians, who resented that they saw as outside interference.

We are deeply saddened that two ECUSA bishops have defied this primatial plea for restraint. Bishop Jon Bruno, Diocese of Los Angeles, recently presided over the same sex ceremony of the Rev. Canon Malcolm Boyd, poet laureate of LA, and his long-time “partner”. Bishop John Chane has announced plans to preside at the same sex blessing of former President of Integrity Michael Hopkins and his “partner” June 12, 2004.

They also resolved that in the light of such a blatant disregard for the pastoral concerns expressed in their Rector's letters to the bishop, the could not- in good conscience- receive communion from Bp. Bennison when he came. In that same letter to the congregation, the vestry offered the congregation the option of attending services other than the one at which the bishop was presiding.

Spencer said in a letter this week to church parishioners that the ritual did not include the use of the Book of Common Prayer, a formal liturgy or vestments.

She said Thursday that she wanted to explain the matter to parishioners before they read it in the newspaper.

"I did not intend to deceive or hurt anyone," Spencer wrote in the letter.