Christchurch's next Anglican bishop will be a controversial Canadian woman who has signalled her support for gay unions - but is reluctant to break with Church tradition on the matter. The Right Reverend Victoria Matthews The Right Reverend Victoria Matthews, who is bishop-in-residence at Wycliffe College in Toronto, will become the eighth Bishop of Christchurch at an official ceremony in August, the NZPA reports. In 2004, Bishop Matthews chaired the Task Force on Alternate Episcopal Oversight which looked at the issue of same sex-marriage in Canada. At the 2007 General Synod of the Canadian church, Bishop Matthews voted in favour of a resolution stating "the blessing of same-sex unions is not in conflict with the core doctrine of the Anglican Church" but voted against permitting those blessings. The Anglican Church's attitude to LGBT people has been creating headlines internationally this year, ahead of July's once-a-decade meeting of worldwide Church leaders in London to discuss important faith matters - including the acceptance and role of gays in the Church. The only openly gay bishop in the worldwide Anglican Church - Gene Robinson, the bishop of New Hampshire - said last week he will not go to the London meeting, after the Archbishop of Canterbury make clear Robinson would not be able to participate in discussions taking place there.