The Anglican Communion said Monday that the Oriental Orthodox churches have suspended ecumenical talks until the Anglicans settle their internal disputes over homosexuality.
The Oriental Orthodox, who differ from Christianity's larger Eastern Orthodox branch on certain doctrinal formulations, include the Armenian Church, Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate, Coptic Orthodox Church of Egypt and Ethiopian Orthodox Church.
The Anglicans and Oriental Orthodox began their dialogue last year.
The Anglican announcement said the heads of the churches in Egypt and Syria met with the Armenian leader in Lebanon Oct. 17-18 and decided to cancel a dialogue session that was to have begun 10 days later in England.
Many world Anglican leaders have denounced the Nov. 2 elevation of an openly gay bishop by America's Episcopal Church, and approval for same-sex blessing ceremonies in a diocese of the Anglican Church of Canada. A special Anglican commission, named Oct. 28, will report on the problem next year.
Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and conservative Protestant leaders have also criticized the Episcopal Church actions as detrimental to Christian unity.