A CONFERENCE focusing on homosexuality and the Anglican church will be held on Saturday in Ipsley.

Homosexuality: Unchanging Anglican Teaching will be held at St Peter's Church Centre, Church Lane, from 10am-4pm.

Speakers will be the Rev Dr Andrew Goddard, tutor in ethics at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford and co-author of True Union in the Body? and Martin Howlett, co-founder of the True Freedom Trust.

Canon Nick Barker, rural dean of Kidderminster, said: "The purpose is to enlighten people on the resolutions on human sexuality discussed at the last Lambeth Conference.

"There is clearly a need for debate on homosexuality and the Anglican church, but the conference will not be the place to do this.

"We don't want people of either way of thinking to attend just to harangue or cause conflict. The purpose is to hear about all the issues involved."

Wycliffe was set up in Oxford in 1877, with a vision for training Christian leaders for the church and with a solid grounding in the Bible.

The True Freedom Trust was set up in 1977 and is a Christian support and teaching ministry offering hope and help to men and women struggling with homosexuality, lesbianism and similar issues.

It also offers support to families, friends and church leaders of those who face these issues in their lives.

The Lambeth Conference is a gathering of bishops which meets every 10 years under the presidency of the Archbishop of Canterbury. The first was held in 1867.

Tickets for the conference are available from Canon Barker on 01562 822131 and cost £5. Participants should bring their own lunches and drinks will be provided.