The New Zealand Anglican Church is split by a proposed international policy, which will address the issue of same-sex relationships.
The proposed covenant aims to provide the church with an international direction on the issue of same-sex relationships.
Last year, the Anglican Church elected a second openly gay bishop in the United States, an issue which has caused deep division in the world-wide communion of 80 million.
Discussions taking place at a general synod of the church in Gisborne on Monday will form part of an international agreement where a number of issues will be addressed, one of which is same-sex relationships.
Archibishop David Moxon says the synod is trying to determine whether the proposed covenant will make them become more relevant or more side-lined.
He says they are only a third of the way into the discussions, which he expects to continue for another two years.