|PIC1|Two senior bishops in the Church of England are to fly to the US next month to take part in a summit of leading American conservatives as the Anglican Communion veers towards a split from the liberal leadership of the Episcopal Church in the US.

The Bishops of Durham and Winchester have received the “full blessing” of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, as they prepare to take part in the three-day consultation in Texas next month, The Telegraph has reported.

The meeting is expected to draw up plans to strengthen the conservative core in the US Church and may also debate the proposed introduction of “flying” primates who will oversee dioceses no longer wishing to have direct oversight from the liberal leadership of the Church.

The bishops are expected to urge conservative members of the US Church to remain within a broad-based group rather than make an official split to form a rival province under a primate from Africa or Asia. |AD|

The participation of the bishops at the Texas summit will be regarded by many as further proof that the Archbishop of Canterbury is planning action against the US Episcopal Church for its liberal position on homosexuals which stands in contradiction to the views of the majority of provinces in the Anglican Communion.

The upcoming consultation will be led by the Bishop of Texas, the Rt Rev Don Wimberley, as the US Episcopal Church remains bitterly divided following the General Convention in Ohio in June.

Many conservatives were deeply disappointed by the election of Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori as the first female primate of the US Church who is openly supportive of homosexual bishops.

Her election sparked the move by seven dioceses to appeal to Dr Williams for “alternative oversight” from a conservative primate, as disillusioned parishes continue to leave the core of the Episcopal Church.