Most of the Gafcon movement’s leaders are from developing nations in Africa, Asia and the Americas, and believe the “colonial” structure of Anglicanism is out of date.
Earlier this month the Church of England’s governing body, the General Synod, voted to introduce women as bishops without any compromise measures which would have appeased Anglo-Catholics and conservative evangelicals, who believe the historic move goes against Scripture and tradition.
As a result of the divisions, more than one in four bishops are boycotting Lambeth, including all of the leaders of powerful churches in Nigeria, Uganda and Kenya as well as at least three Church of England bishops.
The run-up to the meeting this week has been dominated by one of the few bishops who has not been invited – the openly gay American bishop whose appointment triggered the current crisis over sexuality, the Rt Rev Gene Robinson.