Homosexuality dividing Anglican bishops

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NEW YORK, June 20 (UPI) -- Acceptance of homosexuality is threatening to divide Anglican bishops, many who are boycotting an upcoming British conference, officials say.

More than 25 percent of the Anglican Communion bishops invited to the Lambeth Conference in the British city of Canterbury have announced they will attend a rival conference in Jerusalem due to the growing acceptance of homosexuality in the church, The New York Times reported Friday.

Archbishop Peter Jensen said the Global Anglican Future Conference in Jerusalem will be focus in part on the growing division in the Anglican church.

"What form things will take beyond this conference is something we'll discuss at the conference," the Australian official told the Times. "Gafcon is a movement, not just a convention, and I imagine that the present Gafcon leadership will be the initial leadership of any movement that emerges."

Supporters of the new conference have issued a manifesto in which they outline their opposition to the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church of Canada, which recognize same-sex unions and even have a gay bishop.