Concerns are growing that the worldwide Anglican Communion could split by the end of the year under proposals being written up by a leading US conservative bishop.

|PIC1|News of the proposals has emerged as the end of the meeting in New Orleans of US Episcopal bishops draws near, and could present a fresh challenge for the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, who has urged unity.

The latest developments seem to indicate that a leading conservative archbishop will propose to "adopt" a breakaway group of American dioceses. The proposals would allow the conservative dioceses to opt out of the liberal US Episcopal branch of the Anglican Communion and affiliate with his province thousands of miles away.

It is believed that Dr Williams, the spiritual head of the Anglican Communion, has been made aware of the plans, but Lambeth Palace officials firmly oppose them, fearing they could instigate a widespread fragmentation of the Anglican Communion.

Conservatives have recently been left feeling isolated by Dr Williams, who refused to respond to a number of requests from conservative bishops during his recent visit to the Episcopal House of Bishops meeting in New Orleans since the end of last week.

Until now, only a small number of American parishes have left the Episcopal Church, preferring to affiliate themselves with overseas provinces in Africa, and a bitter dispute over Church property has ensued. Under the new plans, however, entire dioceses may break away from the mainstream Church.

The leader of the conservative Network bishops in America, the Bishop of Pittsburgh, the Rt Rev Bob Duncan, has predicted that up to five dioceses could leave the Episcopal Church. He even indicated that at least three dioceses were planning to vote on the issue by the end of the year.

If these dioceses do decide to affiliate themselves with foreign provinces, it is thought that the Episcopal Church would declare their positions vacant and appoint new liberal bishops.

Bishop Duncan has added that Dr William's efforts to keep unity at all costs have undermined his own authority as Archbishop of Canterbury. He said: "The attempt to hold everything together may prove a fatal mistake for Anglicanism and his office."

Whilst a split is becoming a very real prospect to many conservative Anglicans in the US, other leading Anglican leaders and US bishops have been working on a compromise aimed at keeping the Episcopal Church within the worldwide Communion.

The Episcopal House of Bishops, meeting from 20-25 September, have been urgently discussing the issue, but it is thought their proposals will fall short of conservative demands for unequivocal assurances that the liberal wings would end same-sex blessings and any further appointments of gay bishops.

Dr Williams, however, is set to take a different stance and accept the compromise as evidence that the Episcopal leaders have modified their pro-gay agenda sufficiently to prevent their expulsion.

The Episcopal Church House of Bishops are also expected to suggest the creation of a new pastoral council made up of members from across the worldwide Communion representing a spectrum of opinions, who it is hoped will resolve future disputes.