Not surprisingly, the most outspoken of the reports came from the Archbishop of NIGERIA, the Most Rev. Peter Akinola, who reiterated his view that homosexuality should be seen as "an acquired aberration". To argue that it is "a God-given urge and inclination is “a blatant lie against Almighty God”, he said.

The Primate of all Nigeria said, "Our argument is that, if homosexuals see themselves as deviants who have gone astray, the Christian spirit would plead for patience and prayers to make room for their repentance. When scripture says something is wrong and some people say that it is right, such people make God a liar. We argue that it is a blatant lie against Almighty God that homosexuality is their God-given urge and inclination. For us, it is better seen as an acquired aberration."

The Church of Nigeria sees its view as based upon the witness of Scripture. "It is clear from the passages in the Old and New Testament....that it is classified among the most offensive crimes like idolatry involving the sacrifice of children, having intercourse with animals, or marrying a woman and her mother."

The Nigerian report concluded that homosexual acts are contrary to nature and against God's revealed will for mankind. A statement from the House of Bishops makes it clear that The Church of Nigeria is committed to the pastoral care of homosexual people. It says: "While recognizing the sinfulness, from the biblical perspective, of homosexuality, we must continue to keep open the door of restoration for homosexuals through repentance on the one hand, and sensitive pastoral care, on the other." The Church is clear that all people are sinners and need to repent. What it will not do is bless sinful lifestyles. The Nigerian report concluded that it strongly opposed the developments in the Episcopal Church (USA), the Church of Canada and the Church of England.

Other provinces were less shrill, but most in Africa concluded that homosexual behavior was unacceptable and in some cases even an embarrassment to talk about. Many said it was not part of their culture, was abhorrent, and wondered why the Anglican Communion was so preoccupied with this behavior.

THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF KENYA, through its primate The Most Rev. Benjamin Nzimbi said the Church does not approve of homosexual practice. "The Anglican Church of Kenya is wholly bound to the 1998 Lambeth Resolution I.10 which recognizes the biblical marriage between a man and a woman in a life long union."

While not condemning those who are practice lesbianism and homosexuality, the Kenyan church said there is a desire to give pastoral care. "The Anglican Church of Kenya opposes the full inclusion of gays and lesbians in the leadership of the Church. It cannot be in fellowship or partnership with churches who ordain practicing homosexuals to the Diaconate or to the priesthood or that consecrates them as bishops." The statement concluded that The Anglican Church of Kenya takes its stand on from the Scriptures and from a desire to obey God.

THE CHURCH OF UGANDA said it upheld resolution I.10 of the 1998 Lambeth Conference in saying that "Homosexual practice is incompatible with Scripture. "We acknowledge that God is calling us to come alongside those who give in to the temptation of homosexual desire and show them the power of the Word of God to bring joy, peace, and satisfaction to their life through repentance and obedience to God's Word."

"Concerning homosexual behavior and relationships in particular, from a plain reading of Scripture, from a careful reading of Scripture and from a critical reading of Scripture, it has no place in God's design of creation, the continuation of the human race through procreation, or His plan of redemption."

The report said that there had has been an aggressive upturn in homosexual propaganda on the radio and a huge rise in the availability of pornography challenging both biblical and traditional understandings of the glory of human sexuality within marriage in Ugandan society. The Church is developing family life networks to counter false teaching and to strengthen young people in their commitment to remain chaste prior to marriage and faithful in marriage.

THE CHURCH OF THE PROVINCE OF WEST AFRICA said it wanted the debate on homosexuality to be within the bounds of a debate between "text and context, Scripture and African identity and wavelength, Apostolic Tradition and African traditions". As a Province, the Anglican Church of Burundi has consistently stated that Scripture should be "our guide in matters of doctrine, ethics and decision-making. All through the current debate on human sexuality the church has prayerfully encouraged unity, understanding and dialogue within the household of God. The debate challenges our understanding of marriage and family."

THE PROVINCE OF BURUNDI said its chief concerns are "peace and reconciliation, repatriation of refugees and displaced people, community development, literacy and education, and HIV and AIDS, malaria and TB".

THE CHURCH OF THE PROVINCE OF CENTRAL AFRICA, through its archbishop Bernard Malango, said the church can must never tolerate [homosexual] sin. He had this to say: "In the cultures of Central Africa, homosexuality is not something talked about. It is known in the prisons and cases are reported to those in authority. It is...not acknowledged or named [in the community] and when it is named, it is named negatively."

He wrote: "While we accept being called 'LOUD voices from Africa' because we maintain a stand that is different from those that assume have a still and angelic voice on the issue of homosexuality, we totally agree that the listening process...will reach a point to understand one another for the sake of witnessing a redemption wrought in the Anglican Communion. I strongly believe that gays and lesbians are God's people so that they deserve as much love and respect as do heterosexuals, and that means listening and loving before judgment; gay bashing in any word or deed is clearly wrong for anyone who wishes to identify with Jesus. However, one remarkable thing I would like to share is that God and His Son Jesus Christ do not tolerate sin."

THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF THE SUDAN said it was just emerging from war and had more acute issues to deal with than Human Sexuality. "At the 2006 Provincial Synod the issue of Human Sexuality was discussed. Along with registering their strong opposition to the innovations in The Episcopal Church (USA) and the Anglican Church of Canada, they said: "We reject homosexual practice as contrary to biblical teaching and can accept no place for it within ECS. We believe that human sexuality is God's gift to human beings which is rightly ordered only when expressed within the life-long commitment of marriage between one man and one woman. We require all those in the ministry of the Church to live according to this standard and cannot accept church leaders whose practice is contrary to this."

From the PROVINCE OF THE WEST INDIES came word that the 1998 Lambeth Conference Province resolution I: 10 was the official teaching of the Church without exception. "The Province of the West Indies understands the commitment to marriage as between a man and a woman as being alongside the Church's commitment to "continue the dialogue with and pastoral care of homosexual persons."

Within the eight dioceses of the Province, there was a common cultural position which views homosexuality in a very negative light. "The general public would be horrified at the thought of the Church endorsing homosexuality and some have challenged the distinction articulated by the Church between orientation and the participation in homosexual acts," said the Archbishop.

THE NEW PRIMATE FOR THE INDIAN OCEAN (appointed 2006) is concerned committed to offer pastoral care to all people and to "listen to the experience of homosexual people" within the context of Lambeth Resolution I.10. Plans are in place to begin the process.

From the PROVINCE OF THE SOUTHERN CONE and its Archbishop Greg Venables came this word: "The Province of the Southern Cone believes that both homosexual and heterosexual persons must be extended the best of pastoral care and mercy. The Province has "heard the cries of members of the Communion who have been pastorally abused by those who foist a sexual political agenda upon them." The Province formulated a position at the request of the Theological Commission in 2001 but this was not addressed at following Anglican Consultative Council (ACC) meetings. The Province feels the response was deliberately side stepped."

Archbishop Drexel Gomez of the Province of the West Indies said Lambeth I:10 is accepted as the official teaching of the Church without exception. The Province of the West Indies understands the commitment to marriage as between a man and a woman as being alongside the Church's commitment to "continue the dialogue with and pastoral care of homosexual persons." Gomez said that within the eight dioceses of the Province, there is a common cultural position which views homosexuality in a very negative light. The general public would be horrified at the thought of the Church endorsing homosexuality and some have challenged the distinction articulated by the Church between orientation and the participation in homosexual acts.

The orthodox Archbishops said that secular and religious influences from North America have tended to further polarize the debate. "The media campaigns of the Gay/Lesbian Movement and the Fundamentalism of North American Protestantism are seen as equally unhelpful. The Province of the West Indies, despite the media influence and impact, intends to align itself with the world-wide Communion as it seeks to uphold the truth contained in Scripture and in the tradition interpreted with reason and the discernment provided by being open to the movement of the Holy Spirit."

FROM THE LIBERAL side of the ledger came a different word. After a long historical preamble, the TEC concluded with this paragraph: "The Listening Process is not closed and finished in TEC. There continues to be a spectrum of opinions within the church. Listening has no preconceived outcome other than to hear the voice of God in the present context. It is built on the common ground of commitment to God's mission and our baptismal covenant. It requires safe ground for people to express themselves in their vulnerability in order for the discontinuity between what we proclaim and how we are heard and experienced to be clear. It requires serious engagement with the Bible."

FROM THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA, also after a long historical preamble, came this: "The process has moved on from '"dialogue with'" to '"discussion among ourselves'", consciously and openly including gay and lesbian members. Homosexual voices have been heard at General Synod, including homosexual people who strongly endorse traditional teaching, as well as those who would seek its revision. The Canadian church has been consistent in its rejection of discrimination of homosexual people in Canadian society because of a belief that all people are made in the image of God. The conclusion of the 1997 Statement of the Anglican Bishops of Canada remains true for the church: '"We do not have a common mind on all things. We see in part and we know in part. Where we disagree we need to continue to read the Scriptures together and to engage in dialogue, that we might listen for what the Spirit is saying to the Church today.' "

FROM THE CHURCH OF IRELAND, the bishops there believed that it was is more important to find a temporary accommodation of a disagreement between parties pending a permanent settlement than to assert abstract decrees. It was is recognized that these issues engender fears and insecurities and, therefore, discussion "is most effectively undertaken in a safe space, where people are able to let go of their own agendas without betraying their deeply held convictions, where they are prepared to listen sensitively to one another, and where attitudes of condemnation are avoided." There was felt to be a need to spend time on how to listen and learning to live peacefully with people with very different viewpoints.

FROM THE CHURCH OF WALES came this word: "Up to this point there has been no formal process of listening to the experience of homosexual persons, but many informal conversations have taken place and an open study day was held last year following the production of a study guide and the discussion was frank and honest. The study guide is an important document with a range of views expressed. The Primate is leading the church into a positive attempt to listen while honoring one another, particularly building on his experience of such processes within the WCC. He is listening himself and is committed to encouraging informed debate."

THE ANGLICAN CHURCH IN JAPAN says the culture regards sexuality as a subject not to be talked about. "Homosexuality was taboo and not approved of in any way and homosexual people were discriminated against in the workplace, but this has changed," its response says.

THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF AUSTRALIA got stuck on "sensitivity". It acknowledged great difficulties where dioceses had undertaken a broadly based listening process. "In some cases, responses to gay people who attempt to communicate their experiences have been insensitive. . . Understandably, bishops are reluctant to expose vulnerable people to insensitivity. The Church, it seems, is not a safe place for gay people." Though some bishops of rural dioceses have suggested that insensitivity may be partly a product of a conservative rural environment, the evidence indicates that it is also a factor in large city contexts. The Anglican Church in Australia may need to reflect seriously on this situation and how to overcome such insensitivity.

THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND'S response reported a "huge variety" of approaches and responses in the dioceses, and reported that the General Synod in 2007 had "commended efforts to ensure that discussion of human sexuality did not lead to disunity in the Church of England or in the Anglican Communion".

Dioceses have reported a huge variety of approaches and responses. Some dioceses are aware that they need to do more. Others are pleased with how they have moved on the subject. One diocese has developed a listening process with their companion link diocese in Nigeria and has built on this experience.

The Church of England is aware of its unique place within the Anglican Communion, with one of the primates, the Archbishop of Canterbury, being also the Focus of Communion. In this context the General Synod of 2007 commended efforts to ensure that discussion of human sexuality did not lead to disunity in the Church of England or in the Anglican Communion. It recognized that nothing should be done that could be perceived as qualifying the Church of England's commitment to the Lambeth resolutions of 1978, 1988 and 1998 and the opportunities they offered to engage in an open, full and Godly dialogue about human sexuality. The Synod also affirmed that "homosexual orientation in itself is no bar to faithful Christian life or to full participation in lay and ordained ministry in the Church" and acknowledged "the importance of lesbian and gay members of the Church of England participating in the listening process as full members of the Church."

CHURCHES OF THE "SOUTH" such as the Anglican Church of Southern Africa and the Episcopal Anglican Church of Brazil have entered into extensive listening. For example: the statement of the 2002 Rio consultation on homosexuality declared: "Any kind of exclusion contains worms of death. Love is inclusion and life in its fullness," a statement that would be more commonly connected with the "North".

Here is what the PROVINCE OF BRAZIL, a province that was started and is being paid for by the American Episcopal Church: "It is fundamental that the Episcopal Anglican Church of Brazil exercise its inclusive vocation letting itself embrace with love and entirely those people rejected and aborted by the society. For this reason, we assume the pastoral ethic of grace and blessing of God, while rejecting the principle of exclusion implicit in the ethic of sin and impurity which causes division amongst human beings."

In the PROVINCE OF SOUTHERN AFRICA comes this word: "It is clear that the Anglican Church of Southern Africa does not feel Lambeth Resolution 1.10 is the last word on the Anglican understanding of homosexuality and hopes for further development. However, The Anglican Church of Southern African is living within the boundaries of the resolution. This is exampled in the response to the secular legalization of same sex marriages in South Africa, where the church has distanced itself. Such '"marriages'" will not occur in Anglican churches."

IN WESTERNIZED COUNTRIES, often referred to as the "North" (and more afflicted by post-modernity), the "'listening process"' has averred to be on the side of inclusivity and massive condemnation of those who don't agree with homoerotic practitioners. The Episcopal Church, the Anglican Church of Canada and the Church of England has have seen an enormous output of high level vociferous language of hatred and name calling against orthodox voices who have opposed the idea that sodomy as is good and right in the eyes of God. Such attitudes have filtered throughout the Communion creating both negative and positive responses. There is no evidence that such statements will at any time cease or be curtailed.

A spokesperson for a diocese in Australia said: "The 'listening process' in his diocese became a time of 'shouting' rather than listening." The Primate reflects that the Anglican Church in Australia may need to reflect seriously on this situation and consider how it can overcome such insensitivity. Australia is not the only Province of the "North" which has faced the difficulties involved in creating safe places. In his commentary, Dr Williams remarks that "social, cultural, and legal contexts are very varied indeed". He goes on: "No one reading this report can be complacent about such a situation. . . Whatever serious disagreements remain, it is good to know that the pastoral care of homosexual persons is affirmed clearly by so many provinces."

The voices of those in provinces that have stressed the need to be faithful to Scripture and tradition are increasingly being marginalized as the shrill and more strident voices of homosexuals and lesbians has have gained the upper hand both in the church, state and media. The Primates have issued a Sept. 30 deadline for full cooperation and for being in accord with the Windsor Report and Lambeth Resolution 1:10.

But the truth of it is that this "listening" is a one way street. The orthodox are required to "listen" to statements saying anal sex is blessed by God but no one asks the sodomites to "listen" to statements that such conduct is condemned by scripture.

What happens now will be up to the primates.

Full responses can be found at this link: www.aco.org/listening

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