Lambeth Report Canterbury: July 31st, 2008

From www.forwardinfaith.com

FiF International News
Lambeth Conference - 13
Aug 1, 2008

"Dramatically Different"

Today the bishops' indaba groups at last engaged directly the presenting issue in the crisis which presently threatens the Communion, under the heading, "Listening to God and to Each Other: the Bishop and human sexuality".

Archbp. Aspinall introduced today's press conference by observing that, while his indaba group had not reached any consensus, there was a "significant difference" in the "tone of engagement". The discussions at this Conference are "dramatically different" from those ten years ago, with bishops who hold opposing views embracing each other, and thanking each other "for helping them understand what is at stake".

Conference of Anglican Primates in Africa

Archbishop Ian Ernest of the Indian Ocean, who is also chair of the Conference of Anglican Primates in Africa (CAPA), said that the process adopted for this Lambeth Conference had made it possible for each bishop's voice to be heard. He noted that the discussion was not limited to homosexuality: it had also addressed polygamy, and sexual activity among the young. Both ends of the "spectrum", he said, were expressing themselves "clearly, but with generosity", and listening "carefully and attentively".

The archbishop contrasted the "generosity" of this Lambeth with that of 1998, when, he said, a bishop was "rejected" from his Bible study because of the views he expressed.

Archbp. Ernest expressed his hope that the bishops will take the tools Lambeth is offering them, and continue the process through the ongoing work of the Windsor Continuation Group and the Anglican Covenant Group.

The Anglican Communion, he concluded, had been able to take these issues - and they are issues for every church - out from under the table, and engage with them.

Conversation on Sexuality

Bishop Colin Johnson of Toronto, Canada, said that his indaba group had chosen to devote two days to its conversation on sexuality. Conversation, he said, means turning toward another and being changed, because the third party in this conversation is the Holy Spirit. He said that the bishops in his group spoke "very personally".

The bishop observed that the root of the "respect, mutual generosity and trust" which characterised this conversation lies in a sense of common mission, expressed in the Millenium Development Goals and "their impact on the life of our people".

A house, Bp. Johnson said, is more than a bedroom; and there is a world outside the house, part of it flooded, part of it parched. The conversation on sexuality is part of a larger question: "how do we lead faithful lives proclaiming the mission of Jesus Christ?".

Changed Minds

Asked if any bishops were known to have changed their minds as a result of this conversation, Archbp. Aspinall said he was not aware of any, but Archbp. Ernest suggested that some may have "nuanced" their positions.


With respect to the absence of a substantial number of African bishops, Archbp. Aspinall repeated his observation that the Conference is "poorer" because they have chosen not to attend, and Bp. Johnson noted that conservative voices "are not absent here". Archbp. Ernest indicated that CAPA will serve as a "bridge" between the Conference and the absentee bishops. Asked to amplify this, Archbp. Ernest noted that CAPA's general secretary is present at the Conference, and in conversation with other bishops here.

How has GAFCON affected the unity of CAPA?, Archbp. Ernest was asked. He replied that he has invited his brother CAPA primates to attend a meeting in September which will have both GAFCON and Lambeth on its agenda.

The Conversation Continues

Archbp. Aspinall responded to criticism that the bishops were "sidestepping" the sexuality issue by again reminding the press that in his letter of invitation, the Archbishop of Canterbury had been clear that this Conference would not revisit Lambeth 1998's resolution I.10. A new process, he said, was being used to help the church go forward. Archbp. Ernest echoed his remarks: "a process has been offered to us", he said, and the bishops are "engaging with it", with respect. Bp. Johnson described the idea that these issues could be fully resolved here as unrealistic: but "the conversation continues", and the bishops are committed to "continue to engage in indaba".

Asked if they had a word of hope for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) Anglicans, whose lives and vocations sometimes seemed like "bargaining chips", Bp. Johnson responded "I would not say that". The bishops are speaking out of their own missions and contexts, he said, and there is a huge amount of respect here for them. Archbp. Ernest concurred: all are agreed about "welcoming, loving and pastorally serving" them. When challenged as to when the voices of these "faithful LGBT Anglicans" would be heard, Archbp. Ernest responded that the bishops here represent the faithful of their dioceses. Bp. Johnson, noting that it includes a very diverse population, expressed his hope that he is speaking for all the people of his diocese, in such a way as to "hold various paradoxes in tension".

Windsor Continuation Group

Archbp. Aspinall, in response to another question, said that the reflections of the indaba groups were being fed into the Windsor Continuation Group (WCG), so that "they are being woven together now and over the next few days". This weaving will include further input from the indaba groups, and input from a special Self-Select Session called by the Group to flesh out some fresh ideas that had been circulating in the Conference.

A reporter expressed disquiet that there was noone at the press conference speaking clearly for the conservatives. Archbp. Aspinall responded that Archbp. Ernest is "squarely in the conservative camp".

Asked about the reference to "diminution of status" in the third set of observations from the WCG, Bp. Johnson opined that there was no consensus on that in the indaba groups: strong voices both favor and opposed a "two-tiered" Covenant.

In light of the statement issued by Archbishop Henry Arombi of Uganda accusing Archbp. Williams of "betrayal" and speaking of the Communion as a remnant of Britain's colonial past, a reporter asked, is schism avoidable? Archbp. Ernest said that CAPA, as the bridge, brings the absent voices here, as those present engage with the Windsor Continuation and Covenant processes. His own life, he said, is based on the Scriptures, and he will defend them - but "with love and respect".


Asked if all the emphasis on process amounted to "navelgazing", Archbp. Aspinall said it doesn't feel like that to him. He observed that "significant steps" were being made in building relationships and understanding" and that "significant growth is occurring". Bp. Johnson added that, although the media's "concentration" on sexuality made it harder to engage these issues, there was a wide consensus regarding the environment, ecology, and the MDGs.

Spouses' Stories

The Rev'd Jackie Cray, the wife of the Bishop of Maidstone, England, spoke after the bishops had departed for their afternoon session.

She said the spouses had been telling their stories, looking at married life and their individual callings and vocations, and at the abuse of power. She spoke of the presentation by Dr. Maria Akrofi and her work regarding the health and well-being of bishops, clergy and their spouses, and that of Prof. John Copeland regarding mental health. She said she had been shocked to learn that almost no money was set aside to provide mental health care for people traumatized by disasters.

Citing her own story, Ms. Cray said that caring for one another was a key characteristic of the church, by way of prayer, love and practical support in the local community.

Asked about an article which suggested that some bishops may have abused their spouses, Ms. Cray said she had heard "nothing of that nature" - and added that her husband (who is not her bishop) doesn't beat her.

Ms. Cray was unable to say if the topic of how gay and lesbian people are cared for enter into these discussions, since they were pursued in smaller groups.

Asked about the long-term mental health effects of sexual violence, Ms. Cray said that Prof. Copeland had spoken about the importance of providing a safe place where people can talk freely, so as to overcome the continuing "stigma" of mental illness.

President of Forward in Faith North America

Bishop Keith Ackerman of Quincy, IL, the President of Forward in Faith North America, and Bp. Matthias of Ho in Ghana held an impromptu press conference this afternoon.

Bp. Ackerman highlighted three central issues.

First, he reminded the press that the bishops who have absented themselves from the Lambeth Conference, had done so for a reason: if members of a family decide not to attend the family reunion, he said, oughtn't the family to try to find out why? Tradition is not static, he said, but one cannot change the gift given without challenging the Giver.

Second, he asserted that the Communion faces an "ecumenical crisis", citing a long catena of statements from its ecumenical partners to the effect that its actions had made continuing dialogue pursuing the goal of full communion almost impossible.

Third, Bp. Ackerman expressed concern that, despite a resolution passed at Lambeth 1998, the Communion had made little or no effort to bring back the "Anglican Diaspora", and no representatives from it had been invited to the Conference.

Bp. Ackerman concluded by reminding the press, "we didn't start the fire".

Bp. Matthias of Ho in Ghana emphasized that what has happened in TEC is "seen as an abomination" by Muslims, adherents of traditional religions, and other Christians in West Africa. They think "the devil has come into the church" - not just TEC, but the churches in communion with it. Discussion is confused with capitulation: he had been asked several times if he had joined TEC because of his decision to attend the Conference. He noted that TEC is divided, with many congregations and people having come out: "it is not over with them".


Bp. Matthias accused some of inflaming passions with their remarks. He insisted that polygamy is not allowed in his church. He urged Bp. Gene Robinson "to step aside", since his statements were alienating people from the church.

Asked if the proposed Pastoral Forum provided a workable solution for disaffected conservatives, Bp. Ackerman said to ask the GAFCON bishops.

Bp. Matthias said that GAFCON, in which all orders of the church took part, was purposeful: it met, and adopted specific resolutions, while Lambeth simply brings together "a house already divided". He suggested that the GAFCON primates should have been asked to present a specific resolution to be taken up at Lambeth.

Bp. Ackerman observed that the strength of this Lambeth Conference is "respectful listening", which values every person and point of view. But what is the goal of this listening, he asked? In Africa, the indaba process leads to decisions. But if Lambeth is not going to make decisions, who will? Who can?

Cardinal Kasper

The text of Cardinal Kasper's address to a Self-Select Session yesterday was published in Italian in L'Osservatore Romano this morning, but as of this writing the English text has not been made available.

Reflections Document

The third draft of the Reflections document was distributed to the press today. It is substantially longer than the second, and overall the text is gradually becoming more an integrated narrative than a listing of discreet ideas.