CANBERRA (Reuters) - The Anglican Church in Australia's main city of Sydney has voted to consider changing its links with the Church of England, backing concerns raised by Nigeria over the ordination of gay clergy and same-sex unions.

The Sydney synod on Wednesday said it had passed a motion without debate which calls for a review of the Anglican Church of Australia's constitution, to make it optional for Australia to maintain its traditional ties with the English church.

"The current crisis in the Anglican Communion has been brewing for some time, but (has been) brought to a head by the consecration of a practising homosexual," Anglican reverend Mark Thompson said in a statement.

Sydney's Anglican Archbishop Peter Jensen has well-known views that the bible forbids same-sex unions, but Australia's Anglican Primate Phillip Aspinall in June played down chances of a rift, saying the things that united the church were "more profound than those which divide us".

Sydney's decision comes after the Church of Nigeria synod in September revoked its links with the See of Canterbury -- the historic centre of Anglicanism -- creating the potential for a new split in the 77-million strong Anglican Communion worldwide.

The latest row was sparked by the 2003 ordination of a gay bishop in the United States, church blessings for same-sex couples in Canada and approval in Britain for clergy to enter civil unions.

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