The Primates have essentially endorsed the direction set by the Windsor Report, describing Sections A & B of the report as "an authentic description of the life of the Anglican Communion". But more than that, they have firmly set forth the 1998 Lambeth Resolution 1.10 as the standard for Christian teaching on human sexuality. In declaring that it "should command respect as the position overwhelmingly adopted by the bishops of the Anglican Communion" they are "deeply alarmed that [it] has been seriously undermined by recent developments in North America."

It's paragraph 14 of the communique that contains the teeth:

Within the ambit of the issues discussed in the Windsor Report and in order to recognise the integrity of all parties, we request that the Episcopal Church (USA) and the Anglican Church of Canada voluntarily withdraw their members from the Anglican Consultative Council for the period leading up to the next Lambeth Conference. During that same period we request that both churches respond through their relevant constitutional bodies to the questions specifically addressed to them in the Windsor Report as they consider their place within the Anglican Communion. (cf. paragraph 8)

It is all said very politely, I know. But it does follow paragraph 12 where the Primates declare that, while the North American churches (and ours?) continue in their present direction, "the underlying reality of our communion in God the Holy Trinity is obscured, and the effectiveness of our common mission severely hindered."

Or to translate that into ordinary language - "we consider you have a different God and a different Gospel, and until you sort it out (if you can, and we very much doubt that you can!) you best not hang around!" You might think my lanuage a bit exaggerated, but to refer to "our communion in God" in this way, is unieqivocally making this controversy a salvation issue.

For reaction in the secular media see this BBC report or the Sydney Morning Herald. Initial comment from various Anglican groupings can be found on Mainstream UK's homepage.

Let me leave you with this last observation: why did the New Zealand Bishop's Pastoral letter in response to the Windsor Report differ so markedly from that of the Primates? Were they reading the same document? And why were Bishop John Paterson and Dr Jenny Plane Te Paa (members of the Lambeth Commission who wrote the Windsor report) so up-beat in their interview for Anglican Taonga (and so dismissive of the views of conservative anglicans)? The contrast with the Primates Communique is startling! Perhaps you would like to make a comment?