The 18th Primates' Meeting, held at the Emmaus Centre, near Dublin, concluded last weekend. The Anglican Communion Office indicated that the Primates had met in “an atmosphere of prayer and purpose”.

Of course, the absence of seven Primates due to the presence at the gathering of the US Presiding Bishop, the Most Revd Katharine Jefferts Schori, because of the US Episcopal Church's stance on human sexuality, was regrettable.

Had the absenting Primates been present, they would have been able to express their views and assist their colleagues in considering the current inter-Anglican situation. Whatever Christian people's different views on gay relationships may be, they should not be a barrier to them meeting and talking and communing in Christian fellowship.

The Anglican Communion needs to get beyond its difficulties over sexuality issues and to focus, as the Primates did at the Emmaus Centre, on much wider issues, not least the mission of the Church. While also addressing the unity of the Communion, which touches not least the proposed Anglican Covenant, the discussions at this Primates' Meeting were indeed wide-ranging.

The Archbishop of Canterbury's authority has been demonstrated by the success of this occasion, despite the absentees, and the US Presiding bishop's sermon in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin (report, page 1) was surely a vindication of Archbishop Williams' refusal to give in to demands from certain quarters not to invite her at all.

The Covenant, of course, is also being debated throughout the Communion. However, a forthcoming colloquium on the subject - being jointly hosted by the Church of Ireland journal, Search, and the Church of Ireland Chaplaincy at Trinity College Dublin - could open up a deeper debate on the subject than we in the Church of Ireland so far have had (http://searchjournal.ireland.anglican.org).

A big question about the Covenant is just what impact it would have on the Communion:

Would it help the Communion overcome its difficulties?

Would it make no difference?

Would it create new difficulties?

Whatever people's views on the Covenant, the General Synod is due to reach a position on it next May.

When international bodies hold top-level meetings in one's country, a great deal depends on the local organisers.

We conclude this brief comment on the Primates' Meeting by paying tribute both to our own Primate for his role as host and to the Church of Ireland staff who helped to make the event happen. (Reports and photographs, pages 1 and 6)