BOB ABERNETHY, anchor: The Episcopal Church began its General Convention in Columbus, Ohio, and divisions over homosexuality have taken center stage. The denomination and the entire worldwide Anglican Communion have been in crisis over gay issues since the last Episcopal General Convention three years ago. Delegates have been debating whether to move forward with approving gay bishops and same-sex blessings, and whether they can find a way to avoid schism. Kim Lawton is there.

UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN #1 (praying): Come, Holy Spirit, come. Help us to listen to one another…

KIM LAWTON: They invoked the guidance of the Holy Spirit as they debated the question that has dominated the Episcopal Church for the past three years - how to deal with issues surrounding homosexuality without splitting the church. Pittsburgh Bishop Robert Duncan leads a conservative network.

Bishop ROBERT DUNCAN (Diocese of Pittsburgh, at hearing): We've reached a moment where it is very difficult, indeed. I think we've reached an impossible moment in holding it together.

LAWTON: Gene Robinson, the openly gay bishop approved three years ago, argued that the church must keep moving forward.

Bishop GENE ROBINSON (Diocese of New Hampshire, at hearing) It seems to me this debate is about one thing: Do we as a church recognize the light of Christ and the mark of the creator in the faces and lives of gay and lesbian members of this church? We cannot make decisions about what the rest of the Communion will or will not do, nor should we be unduly swayed by fear.

LAWTON: The Episcopal Church is the U.S. branch of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The issue for delegates here in Columbus is two-fold-to try and keep the Episcopal Church together and to officially respond to worldwide concerns about actions taken at the 2003 General Convention. There, delegates approved Robinson's consecration and permitted the blessing of same-sex unions. That ignited controversy across the Communion. Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams appointed a special commission to study how schism could be avoided. Its report called on the U.S. church to express its regret and impose an indefinite moratorium on gay bishops and same-sex blessings until some new consensus emerges.

There has been vigorous debate here about what the U.S. church should do.

UNIDENTIFIED MAN #1 (in testimony): When many of us are asked to regret, apologize, repent,and be cautious, we believe we're being asked to turn our back on the Holy Spirit.

UNIDENTIFIED MAN#2 (in testimony): We ask specifically that the church stop any further consecration of persons living in same-gender relationships. We ask that the church stop the blessing of same-sex unions.

UNIDENTIFIED MAN #3 (in testimony): Perhaps pain is needed for the Anglican Communion to awaken to God's valuable gay and lesbian people in the body of Christ, and I would say so be it.

UNIDENTIFIED MAN #4 (in testimony): I have 25 more years to serve in this church before I can retire. Please do not let the next 25 years be as struggle-filled as the first four.

LAWTON: As delegates worked to find a compromise, advocates for gays and lesbians urged that justice not be sacrificed for the sake of unity. Susan Russell heads the pro-gay group Integrity.

Reverend SUSAN RUSSELL (President, Integrity): I believe there are many ways we can work together to work through these differences, and that it will grieve the heart of God if we can't manage to do that and if a split occurs in this communion. And, at the end of the day, I'm also convinced that if a schism or a split happens, the responsibility has to lay firmly at the feet of those who are threatening to leave, not those of us who are threatening to stay.

Reverend Canon DAVID C. ANDERSON (American Anglican Council): They've already hijacked the Episcopal Church. They have to own the fact that they've hijacked it. They've taken it out into open water.