Leaders of the Anglican Church, meeting in Dar-es-Salaam in Tanzania, have issued an ultimatum to the US church over its attitude to homosexuality.
Archbishops have demanded in a communiqué that the US Episcopal Church stops appointing gay clergy and blessing same-sex couples.
The Anglican leaders gave the US church a deadline of 30 September to clarify its position.
The crisis began when the church approved an openly-gay bishop in 2003.
Speaking after the meeting, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams said the church's position on homosexuality remained unchanged.
