Anglican head to meet U.S. bishops

The leader of the world’s Anglicans, visiting Canada for a spiritual retreat, said he had agreed to an urgent request for a meeting with U.S. church leaders as the Anglican fellowship nears a split over the Bible and sexuality.

Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams said at a Toronto news conference that he would meet with U.S. Episcopal leaders in the fall.

Last month, U.S. Episcopal bishops affirmed their support for gays and rejected a compromise plan that would have required the Americans to give up some authority to theological conservatives outside the U.S.