Commentators believe the Archbishop will try to unite leaders

Leaders from the worldwide Anglican communion have clashed over the ordination of gay bishops ahead of this week's Church summit.

The emergency meeting has been called in London by leaders of the Anglican faith to discuss the issue.

It follows anger expressed at the election of the first openly gay bishop, Gene Robinson, to the Episcopal Church in New Hampshire, in US.

But speaking on BBC television on Sunday, two of those preparing to attend the summit were clearly divided on the way forward.

'Not optimistic'

Speaking from Argentina, Archbishop Greg Venables - who is Primate of the Southern Cone - told the Breakfast With Frost programme that the church was like "two ships going in different directions".

He said Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams was right not to be too optimistic of avoiding a split in the Church.

People have now got to decide whether they are going for traditional Christianity or this modern, relativistic Christianity Bishop Greg

His views were countered by Archbishop Njongo Ndungane, Primate of South Africa, who said the Church was able to contend with the "creative diversity", arguing that "fragmentation" was not the way forward.

Bishop Greg said he believed the New Hampshire Episcopal Church has already "stepped out" from the Anglican faith in electing a gay bishop.

To be accepted back means "repentance" and then finding a way forward, he said.

'Relativism'

The bishop argued that the stance of the Anglican Church has already been agreed as traditionalist.

But, he added, the new "post-modern, relativistic" Christianity evolving in the 20th century did not go along with this.

"I think Dr Rowan Williams has got a good grasp of the situation and is right not to be too optimistic," he said.

"I sense he will want to help the church onto its original course."

Robinson's case caused deep divisions in the US Anglican Church

However Archbishop Ndungane said "ultimatums" were not the way to resolve what he described as "complex and difficult" issues.

He argued that even if the church was not totally of one mind, it should be able to continue undivided.

"It (the gay issue) will not go away, even if people decide to go away from us.

"As leaders of the church, we need to lead by example ... we should try to urge people to find common ground," he told the programme.

The vote in the New Hampshire church caused turmoil both within the US Church itself and worldwide.

Several primates in Asia and Africa also condemned the appointment and threatened to split from the US arm.

Observers say it is hoped the Archbishop of Canterbury can use next week's meeting to stop the controversy leading to the break-up of the Anglican Church.