Episcopal bishops apologize for 'pain' over gay ordination

The statement expressed regret over the strains the U.S. church's action caused "as a sign of our deep desire for, and commitment to, continuation of our partnership in the Anglican Communion." Some conservatives have called for those who supported Bishop Robinson's ordination to be either disciplined or expelled from the worldwide body, creating concern among many that the issue will ultimately result in schism.

Just as the U.S. church ordains women while other provinces in the Anglican Communion do not, "you seek to articulate the gospel in your own immediate context, and the form it takes may be different than the form it takes in another part of the world. We can ordain women here in part because of the place of women in the culture generally," while cultural norms prohibit female leadership in other parts of the world, he said.

He acknowledged that relations within the Communion become "problematic when we say, 'Oh well, we are ahead in some way and they are behind,' rather than recognizing two very distinct realities and respecting the other."

Bishop Robert Duncan of the Diocese of Pittsburgh is one of several conservatives who have boycotted meetings of the House of Bishops since it approved Bishop Robinson's ordination. But he and others came to Salt Lake City because they believed the group was "prepared to talk about the mess we've gotten ourselves into."