The five-day meeting of Anglican primates from around the world is not expected to achieve agreement on same sex issues by the time it ends tomorrow at Newry, Co Down.
Sources indicated last night that it seemed the meeting's greatest achievement would most likely be that no church leader had walked out, precipitating a schism.
The closed meeting at the Dromantine conference centre is understood to have heard trenchant arguments from both sides of the debate, with no likelihood of compromise or consensus.
More conservative leaders, from African churches in particular, have been refusing even to take the Eucharist with North American counterparts lest it be suggested they remained in communion with them.
All have taken part in prayer services, including evensong at St Patrick's Cathedral Armagh on Tuesday evening.
Sources have suggested that "a fudge" may be agreed in a communique, to be issued tomorrow, which will most likely refer the same sex issue to a church committee, thus preserving de jure unity while accepting de facto division.
Thirty-five of the 38 Anglican primates worldwide, representing 77 million people, are attending the meeting. The primates of Burundi, North India, and Hong Kong could not be there.
In May 2003, the primates met at Gramado in Brazil and issued a pastoral letter which specifically noted that "as a body we cannot support the authorisation [of public rites for the blessing of same sex unions]".
Within days such a rite was authorised by the Bishop of New Westminster in Canada. In June 2003 the US diocese of New Hampshire elected an openly gay man, Canon Gene Robinson, as its bishop.
This was confirmed a few months later at the General Convention of the Episcopal Church (USA).
There was uproar from more conservative church leaders, notably Archbishop Akinola, primate of Nigeria. It was clear the Anglican primates would have to meet again.
They did so at Lambeth in October 2003 where they reaffirmed traditional teaching on sexual ethics.
They warned that if the consecration of Canon Robinson as bishop went ahead, (it did, the following month) and with continued development of public rites for the blessing of same sex unions, they "had to conclude that the future of the communion itself will be put in jeopardy."
As many provinces were believed "likely to consider themselves as out of communion with the Episcopal Church (USA)", they asked that a commission be set up to look at ways forward. Known as the Lambeth Commission on Communion it was chaired by the Primate of All-Ireland Archbishop Robin Eames.
It published the Windsor Report last October, which chided both sides and pleaded for time for all to reflect on the situation.
This week's meeting is the first opportunity the primates have had to consider the Windsor Report together.
