The Primate, Archbishop Andrew Hutchison, in deciding to halt the session, said the session was "making his dying hours as Primate very interesting."

A motion from the floor to alter the agenda and continue debate was defeated. The discussion will continue Sunday.

General Synod defeated a motion that would have required resolutions sent to it by the Council of General Synod on same-sex blessings to carry only if they received 60 per cent of the vote. This means that approval now defaults to a 50 per cent vote requirement.

The motion under discussion at the time of adjournment last night was "that General Synod resolves that the blessing of same-sex unions is not in conflict with the core doctrine of the Anglican Church of Canada."

A motion to refer the issue back to the Primate's Theological Commission for more study was defeated.

The other motion still to be discussed is that "General Synod affirm the authority and jurisdiction of any diocesan synod, with the concurrence of the bishop, to authorize the blessing of committed same-sex, unions."