[BBC News] 4 Jul 2008--The Church of England is accustomed to attacks on its unity on one front.
When its ruling Synod meets in York for its summer session on Friday, it faces a pincer movement by two deeply divisive issues.
The first is over an issue that is not even on the agenda.
A traditionalist member of the Synod, Paul Eddy, gained strong support for his motion calling on the Church to make the conversion of people of other religions - including Muslims and other sizeable minorities in Britain - an explicit part of its purpose.
Mr Eddy got more than 100 signatures supporting the motion at two successive Synod meetings, and says he was led to believe his motion would be up for discussion this weekend.
He claims it was suppressed for fear of offending people of other faiths, with whom the Church has a delicate relationship. Church officials say there was simply no room in a crowded agenda.
This dispute might have gone relatively unnoticed but for the events in Jerusalem last week - and the rally by some 800 traditionalist Anglicans in London on Tuesday.
Related article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7489043.stm Church Synod braced for disputes - BBC News
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