The strain of preventing a schism in the Anglican Communion over the issue of homosexuality was laid bare at a meeting of leaders led by the Archbishop of Canterbury this past week in Hong Kong.

Archbishop Justin Welby sought to reconcile the two sides before the closing of the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC-17) on Sunday by apologising for any "mistakes" he might have made in his handling of invitations to the Lambeth Conference taking place next year. 

The Lambeth Conference brings together all active bishops and their spouses from around the worldwide Anglican Communion, but it was announced in February that the spouses of gay bishops would not be allowed to attend. 

The decision was applauded by evangelicals but met with outcry by liberals both within and outside the Church, who claimed it was discriminatory. 

Kent University, where the conference is being held, said the decision raised "significant ethical concerns" and that the uninvited spouses of gay bishops would be welcome to stay on the campus while the gathering is taking place. 

When discussions nearly broke down on ACC-17's last day of formal business on Saturday, Welby stepped in to smooth things over by saying that the upset caused over invitations to Lambeth 2020 was his "fault and my responsibility". 

"It may be that at the end of time, I will understand that I got that wrong, and I will answer for it in one respect or another on the day of judgement," he said.

"Where I handled it badly, which I am sure I did, for one group or another, I want to apologise to you because I have not helped the communion, either for those who are concerned by who was invited or those who are concerned by who was not invited.

"I ask your forgiveness where I made mistakes."

The apology, which does not undo the decision to exclude gay bishops' spouses, came in the middle of contentious debate over a resolution on the ongoing process of listening to people who have been "marginalized" in the Anglican Communion because of their sexuality.  This listening process originates in the 1998 Lambeth Conference in Resolution 1.10.

The resolution debated on Saturday was put forward by Oklahoma Bishop Ed Konieczny and called on provinces to gather responses to the listening process on human sexuality. 

This part of the resolution was not disputed by delegates at ACC-17 but conflict arose over the wording of the preamble that sought to affirm "the respect and dignity of persons as children of God who have been marginalized due to their human sexuality".  It added that "they should be fully included in the life of the Anglican Communion."

Several bishops from the Global South spoke out about the wording.  Ezekiel Kondo, the Archbishop of Muslim-majority Sudan warned that churches in his country would be shut down "tomorrow" if the resolution were to be passed unamended. 

After protracted discussions, Archbishop Welby helped to broker a newly worded resolution that notes "concern" over the invitations to Lambeth 2020. 

The resolution also asks him to start a listening process "with supportive and independent facilitation in order to hear the concerns and voices of people especially those who have felt themselves marginalized with regard to their sexuality."

The issue of sexuality has caused fierce divisions in the Anglican Communion.  Some provinces, including those in North America, have become increasingly liberal, permitting gay bishops and same-sex marriage ceremonies.

This has angered orthodox Anglicans, particularly those in the Global South, who argue that it goes against Scripture.  Dissatisfied with the leadership's handling of the actions of liberal provinces, they have sought to reform the Church from within. 

One outcome of this is the creation of GAFCON (the Global Anglican Future Conference), which has threatened to boycott Lambeth 2020 over the attendance of gay bishops. 

Nigeria and Uganda are among the Churches saying they will boycott the gathering.  Alongside Rwanda, they did not send representatives to the ACC-17 meeting in Hong Kong.