1.   The ordination of women and treatment of homosexual clergy - both sensitive issues - May well cause rifts.

2.   Although the church welcomes gay men and lesbians into its congregations, homosexual clergy may serve only in the pulpit as long as they remain celibate.

3.   Like other mainstream denominations, the Episcopalians have struggled for two decades with the issue of homosexual clergy and the blessing of same-sex couples.

4.   That action came only six days after two Lutheran churches in San Francisco were expelled from their denomination for having appointed openly homosexual clergy members as pastors.

5.   The church is sending just three representatives and is contending with an uprising among conservatives who denounce the world council for its discussions of feminist theology and homosexual clergy.

6.   But some Episcopal dioceses disregard the official stance by ordaining homosexual clergy and blessing the relationships of same-sex couples.

7.   In the United Church, regional bodies are free to allow or to forbid homosexual clergy and ceremonies, and Episcopal Church dioceses operate with the same local option.

8.   The Episcopal Church officially opposes homosexuality but in practice brings no sanctions against those who ordain homosexual clergy or bless same-sex unions.

9.   The Rev. Donna Wright of Omaha, Nebraska, argued the exclusion of homosexual clergy is the same as past church discrimination against blacks, women and the handicapped.

10.   There have also been decisions not to discipline priests who conduct same-sex unions or bishops who ordain actively homosexual clergy.