The next Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has sought to avert a damaging split in the worldwide Anglican Church over homosexuality by describing his liberal views on the issue as "personal theories".
In his first letter to Anglican primates, Dr Williams tried to allay fears that he will undermine the traditional ban on the ordination of practising homosexuals by acknowledging that the policy reflected the "mind" of the Church.
He assured his fellow Church leaders that an Archbishop of Canterbury is not elected to fulfil a "manifesto of his own devising but to serve the whole Communion".
He also warned a Canadian diocese that is planning to bless same-sex "marriages" that such a move would damage the "sacramental unity" of the Church.
The move is designed to placate a number of traditionalist Anglican Archbishops, mainly from Africa and Asia, who were dismayed that Dr Williams was appointed to succeed Dr George Carey after admitting that he had ordained a practising homosexual.
They have been warning that any further relaxation on the issue would result in a far more profound schism in the Church than the one over women priests.
The letter was, however, greeted with disappointment by some sections of the gay rights lobby, with one group accusing Dr Williams of "selling out to the bigots". Others dismissed it as little more than diplomatic manoeuvring.
In the letter, which was written on the day his appointment was announced, Dr Williams accepted that the 1998 Lambeth Conference decision to uphold the Church's ban on the ordination of practising homosexuals and same-sex "marriages" reflected the majority view.
He described his writings on sexuality, in which he has argued for the acceptance of stable homosexual relationships, as a contribution to the debate with "no authority beyond that of an individual theologian".
In contrast the Lambeth Conference resolution, which he has refused to endorse, "declares clearly what is the mind of the overwhelming majority in the Communion and what the Communion will or will not approve or authorise".
The Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association reacted angrily to the letter, accusing Dr Williams of a shocking betrayal. It said: "Gay people throughout Britain will feel a sense of deep disappointment and disillusion today as the new Archbishop of Canterbury lets it be known that he has bowed to pressure from bigots."
The Rev Richard Kirker, the secretary of the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement, said that the letter did not reflect a shift by Dr Williams, who had to adopt a more subtle approach at Canterbury.
"It doesn't say that he abides by the Lambeth Conference resolution. He has already done many things against it," said Mr Kirker.
"Do you think he is going to stop ordaining homosexuals? I doubt it. My information is that he has continued to judge all candidates on their merits and has not barred any person he has known to be a practising homosexual from the ordination process on those grounds."