A group of conservative Anglicans held a conference in Bermuda to discuss their disapproval of lesbian bishop.

And sources said many local clergymen did not attend the meetings.

The meetings took place April 5 to 9 where the group criticised the Episcopal church for the election of a "partnered lesbian", Rev. Mary Glasspool, as a bishop in Los Angeles. The group also decided on the new leadership for the Global Anglican Future Conference/Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans Primates Council.

While there were public meetings, this newspaper understands discussions of Rev. Glasspool were held in private.

Rev. Canon James Francis said he didn't attend because he doesn't agree with the council.

"They are a religious group and they decided to form their own coalition and therefore they have the right to meet anywhere they want to meet. I prefer not to join them because they're not in communion with the Anglican church.

"I consider them to be conservative. I don't know why they were here. They pay their pay where ever they go. I don't know what they consider themselves to be."

But Rev. Nick Dill of St. John's Church said the meetings were positive.

"I found it an encouraging meeting. These are people who are dealing with real life struggles and dealing with growths in their churches. It was really a private thing but they wanted to encourage people in Bermuda from their experience."

Rev. Dill said Premier Ewart Brown attended one of the open meetings and was presented with a bible from the leaders who then prayed for Bermuda, specifically for the violence.

According to Episcopal Life, a communiqué issued at the conclusion of the Bermuda meeting described the group as "a movement defined by theology that delivers spiritual and practical outcomes to faithful Anglican Christians around the world".

Rev. Glasspool is the second openly gay partnered priest to be elected a bishop in the Episcopal Church.

On March 17, Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori's office confirmed that Glasspool had received the required number of consents from diocesan standing committees and bishops with jurisdiction to her ordination and consecration as a bishop. Her consecration is set for May 15.

In a statement, the council said: "We acknowledged that the issues that divide our beloved Communion are far from settled and that the election of the Reverend Mary Glasspool, a partnered lesbian, as a Bishop in Los Angeles in The Episcopal Church (TEC), makes clear to all that the American Episcopal Church leadership has formally committed itself to a pattern of life which is contrary to Scripture.

"This action also makes clear that any pretence that there has been a season of gracious restraint in the Communion has come to an end. Now is the time for all orthodox biblical Anglicans, both in the USA and around the world, to demonstrate a clear and unambiguous stand for the historic faith and their refusal to participate in the direction and unbiblical practice and agenda of TEC."

The council was formed out of the controversial Global Anglican Future Conference that was held in Jerusalem during June 2008, one month prior to the Lambeth Conference of bishops.

Many of the bishops attending chose to boycott the Lambeth Conference.

The leaders who attended the meetings were from Nigeria, West Africa, Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Sydney, North America and South America.