After being delayed on St Thomas for two hours and missing my connecting flight from New York to London, I arrived at my destination several hours late the following day. Several others were taken from the airport to St Martin’s Church, West Drayton, Middlesex, for hospitality.  Later we boarded a minibus and drove two hours to Canterbury. With everyone arriving all morning there were long lines for registration, housing accommodation, and long lines for meals also. There were over fourteen hundred bishop, spouses, ecumenical guests and support staff present.

We began the conference on Wednesday evening July 16, 2008 with a Plenary Session at which time the Archbishop of Canterbury, The Most Reverend Dr. Rowan Williams, welcomed us to the Conference at the University of Kent, Canterbury Campus. The Archbishop shared his vision for the conference, being for purposeful discussion to consider two themes of Equipping Bishops for Mission and, Strengthening Anglican Identity. Also he introduced everyone including the Design Group of representatives from across the Anglican Communion who had worked over the years and months to bring such a large gathering of bishops and spouses, the 38 Provinces of the Anglican Communion for this once in a decade gathering. After some sharing of the plans for our conference which was interspersed with prayer and singing, even rehearsing for the next day’s service, we dismissed for dinner.  

The next three days- Thursday, Friday and Saturday- of the conference, were devoted to a retreat, very well planned and placed, to help us empty ourselves of all our own conceived thoughts and ideas of what the conference should be, and to prepare the way for the Holy Spirit to do a new thing in our hearts and minds in preparation for our listening in love to each other. The theme of the retreat was  
“God’s Mission and a Bishop’s Discipleship. For two days of the Retreat we were bussed to the Canterbury Cathedral where the entire facility was given over for our use.  

During each day’s sessions there were two presentations interspersed among moments of silence, prayer and song. After each address we were encouraged to walk silently around the precincts of the Cathedral or just sit quietly in a chapel and let the Holy Spirit inform our minds as to what we had just heard from the Archbishop. It was a spirit filled moment to walk the cloister and undercroft of this ancient edifice where the evidence was clear that pilgrims had walked that way for over fourteen hundred years. To see the worn paths carved through stone by the feet of those who went before us just flood the soul with many thoughts of pilgrims conversing with God as they journeyed. Each address reminded us of our role as bishops and as the prophetic voice for our time. The Retreat put us in the frame of mind with which we should spend the rest of our time together. There was a taste of Pentecost as each person present said the Lord’s Prayer in his own native language.

Thursday 17th July 2008, the First Day Retreat of the Lambeth Conference

Each day of the Lambeth Conference began and ended with Morning Prayer and Eucharist in the morning and ended with Evening Prayer. The Eucharist and Evening Prayer each day were led by a different Province. Our small bible study group looked at a different one of the, ‘I AM’ sayings of Jesus as He spoke of his ministry in relationship to God and us.

After Bible study we boarded our coaches and headed for the Canterbury Cathedral the site of the first two days of retreat. The welcome, opening prayer and the introduction to the Cathedral were given by the Dean of Canterbury, the Very Rev. Robert Willis. Our worship leader Geoff Weaver led us in a few praise songs. Then we had our first address of the Retreat by the Most Reverend Dr Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury. In his opening address, the Archbishop reminded us to consider our vocation as bishops and what that means for us and the wider church.  He invited us to reflect and pray for those with whom we disagree; those in our journey who have helped us to see Jesus as Son of God, those who revealed God’s healing, forgiveness, challenge and promise; and finally those who confirmed and ordained.

I reflected on Bishop Knowles who confirmed me, and Bishop Taylor, being present, who ordained me both as deacon and priest. The following bishops also came to mind as they were instrumental in my ordination and consecration to the episcopate: Bishops Arthur Williams, Telesforo Isaac, Orris Walker, Clayton Matthews, Michie Klusmeyer, my coach, and the late Margarita Martinez of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.  We were invited to recognize the ministry of God’s Son  in the ministry of all.

As we walk in silence through the undercroft, the cloister, the many chapels and aisles of the cathedral and saw the worn paths, one could not help but reflect on the countless generation of pilgrims who had wandered those pathways before us. And of course, the high vaulted ceilings resounding with the echo of voices from many generations of worshipers.  Two sets of words (among many) came to mind and stayed with me. One, ‘these stones that have echoed their praised are holy and dear are is the ground where their feet have once trod’ and two, ‘O then with hymns of praise these hallowed courts shall ring’.  

Friday 18th July 2008, the Second Day Retreat of the Lambeth Conference

The second day of our retreat began first with Bible Study Groups continuation of the reading of the gospel of John 1:19-34: he confessed, I am not the Messiah. Later we boarded our busses for the cathedral where the Archbishop taught and directed us through his meditation with spiritual insights, deep and profound. In his third address the Archbishop spoke of the role of bishop as both friend and stranger, at home among the people, yet stands apart, speaks the language of the people, yet the language of God.

In his fourth address the Archbishop began with a quote, ‘a single Christian is no Christian’. Our need as bishops is to be in council with other bishops, to live in community and communion. He suggested that we call another bishop with whom we are uncomfortable over the present issues challenging the Communion, ask for prayers, and work to restore a wounded Communion, because the gospel can only be spread in communion.  

Saturday 19th July 2008, the Third Day Retreat of the Lambeth Conference

The final address on the third day took place in ‘Big Top’- a huge tent set up on the campus grounds for worship and plenary. Our text came again from John’s gospel 4: 6-42, ‘I am the one speaking to you’. By this time there was a sense of spiritual growth and fellowship in bible study. You see, bible study provided us a place to speak safely and honestly. This was a goal of the Design Group to draw us deeper in relationship with Christ and each other.  This address focused on the nature of Christian leadership and following Jesus as the only way to be leaders.

This retreat had been about our life as bishops: how we lead is a model for the entire church. The content of this retreat was strategic and relevant to our common lives during the conference and when we return to our respective dioceses. Together with our daily bible study of John’s gospel and our worship time, the retreat has prepared the way for our time at the conference.  

Sunday 20th July 2008, the Fourth Day of the Lambeth Conference

Our day began as we boarded busses heading for the celebration of the Holy Eucharist at the Cathedral a Metropolitical Church of Christ, Canterbury, the Mother Church of the Anglican Communion and the See of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Canterbury Cathedral. A procession of over six hundred and fifty bishops, their spouses, ecumenical guests, and other Christians from across Canterbury filled the Cathedral.

This was a very special time for many of the bishops and spouses and many first time worshipers to be present in the place where during the late sixth century, 597 AD  that St Augustine and his fellow missionaries based their work on bringing Christianity back to England. Having spent two days in retreat in the Cathedral, with the opportunity to traverse the entire precincts, made it a rather familiar place to worship. 

Because we were of many languages and cultures, the Eucharist was celebrated mindful of our human contexts. There were drums, dancers in native attire during the procession of the gospel, Scripture and hymns were read and sung in various other languages.

  The Archbishop presided at the Eucharist and the preacher was the Right Reverend Duleep de Chickera, the Bishop of Colombo, Sri Lanka. In his sermon, Bishop Chickera spoke of the brokenness of the world and the church, and he referenced our prior retreat where the Archbishop called us to self examination. He invited us to be a church that welcomes everyone, but with a prophetic voice. One of our former bishops, the Rt. Rev.  E. Don Taylor, led the prayers.  After the service which lasted about two hours, we returned to the University of Kent at Canterbury Campus for lunch and the continuation of our conference.

After our lunch break we returned to the Big Top for the afternoon plenary session which introduced us to the conference program, and its impact on our common life together for the rest of our time. The Archbishop in his introduction spoke of a renewed structure for the Lambeth Conference and the Anglican Communion, and it was time for a revival in our Communion and we must entrust ourselves into God’s care for this process. He continued that our way forward depends on our focus on the mission of Christ which we can accomplish as we listen to each other. The Archbishop was greeted with a standing ovation, our expression of the fact that as a result of the meditations, his leadership throughout the retreat, and in our worship experience, there is a trust and a respect for his spiritual leadership.  

Monday 21st July 2008, the Fifth Day of the Lambeth Conference

Ordinary Day 1: Celebrating Common ground: the Bishop and Anglican Identity

On our first ordinary day we began as we did all the previous mornings, except Sunday when we went to the Cathedral, with Morning Prayer 6:30am, the Eucharist at 7:15am, breakfast 8:15am, Bible study at 9:15am, tea at 10:30am then at 11:00am & 4:00pm our renown sessions of INDABA (In-dar-ba). After dinner with the Episcopal Church Foundation, we returned to the Big Top for Plenary Session entitled, Changing Contexts: Breaking open our Models for Evangelism with Dr Brian McLaren, dynamic and ecstatic!!!  

Today the conference moved to the next level of its development which will be the format for the rest of the conference with a few minor changes. For the first time we began engaging each other in conversation with the things that make us uniquely Anglican.  Our previous engagements in conversation would have been as we discussed our understanding of what the Scripture is saying to us in our daily bible study from John’s gospel.

Today for the first time we had the opportunity to delve into a methodology of engagement with the topics for the day in INDABA groups.  Indaba groups, through the issues they explore and the way these explorations take place, play a significant part in achieving these aims. They also provided a space in which it was possible for the voice of every one in the group to be heard.

INDABA (In-dar-ba) is a Zulu word for a gathering for purposeful discussion.  It is both a process and a method of engagement as we listen to each other concerning challenges that face our community and by extension the Anglican Communion.  An INDABA first and foremost acknowledges that there are issues needing to be addressed effectively to foster on-going communal living. We must be aware of these challenges without immediately trying to resolve them one way or the other.

With the foregoing as our foundation we moved to eight groups of five each and shared our understanding of Celebrating Common ground: the bishop and Anglican Identity, then answered our first focus question: Who am I as a bishop in the Anglican Communion. We looked at four aspects of our formation. We are formed by Scripture, Shaped through worship, Ordered for communion, and Directed by God’s mission. Each group arrived at similar conclusions that were summarized in the following manner.

A bishop is an administrator and manager, an apostolic leader, a servant, person of prayer, guardian of the unity of the church, an intercessor, prophet, priest, steward, apostle, leader and teacher, a voice for the voiceless, the vulnerable and the marginalized.

Because of the diversity of our group and the overwhelming number of bishops from less wealthy dioceses, we also concluded that while there may be a general job description for all bishops, they minister in various contexts; the resources available for effective ministry vary enormously. In some contexts bishops struggle with realities such as inadequate basic staff, office space, resources to do the work of ministry, etc.    

The final plenary session for the evening was most exciting for me. Dr McLaren looked at the mission of the church in a new context and challenged us to break open our Models of Evangelism. He likened the Church in the West to a bridge in Honduras that withstood the ravaged of a hurricane after being battered with 180 mile winds and 75 inches of rain. When everything was over, the bridge withstood the force of the wind and rain; but the river cut a new path thus destroying the other side reached by the bridge. Now people were cut off from their families on the other side of the river, while the bridge to nowhere stood as a monument to Japanese ingenuity. The church of the Twenty First Century is fast becoming like that bridge.  He also told us a poignant story of a baby hippopotamus that was orphaned by the Tsunami.  It was placed in an enclosure with an old male tortoise. The young hippo kept seeking out the tortoise for companionship and the tortoise kept walking away, but the hippo persisted and eventually won the heart of the tortoise. To everyone’s surprise the tortoise began seeking out the hippo for companionship. The hippo’s persistence paid off. All that was to say that, the Anglican Church has something relevant to offer the world, if we knew how to deliver it and be persistent in our delivery.  

22nd July 2008 Sixth Day of the Lambeth Conference

Ordinary Day 2: Proclaiming the Good news: the Bishop and Evangelism

After a morning that began like the day before with Morning Prayer followed by the Eucharist, breakfast and our continuation of the study of John’s Gospel in our bible study, we moved to our second day of INDABA. The bishop as evangelist strategically followed the last presentation, Models of Evangelism, the following evening. Today we divided into ten groups of four and looked at one of Ten Key Mission Concepts. A scribe from each group reported to the whole group our findings in response to: how do we, as bishops encourage evangelism in the diocese in relation to the particular mission context, and what are the challenges we face in being leaders in mission in this context.

The ten key mission contexts were Other Faiths, Migrants, Refugees and Displaced People, HIV/AIDS, Response to Emergencies, Young People, Reconciliation, Response to Decline, Growth, Economic Viability, and Christian Values. We were like children with a piñata, everyone trying to get a favorite topic. While I wanted young people, I ended up with growth, a topic closely related to Congregational Development and revitalization. Despite the diversity of contexts, the groups managed to give summaries of the Ten Key Mission Contexts. While the Millennium Development Goals were not up for discussion at this pointing of the conference, you will see from the topics discussed and the responses made that we were responding to Jesus own commissioning in Luke 4:18-19, also expressed for us in the DMG’s. Our responses to the Ten Key Mission Contexts were collated and the following eight were circulated.

GROWTH: the group identified the need for prayer, mobilization and empowerment to be essential to growth. Conferences and seminars were some of the strategies identified by the group for teaching and giving of proper information to enable honest sharing of faith in appropriate ways. Music, sporting activities, and the development of liturgies relevant to different groups could be used as evangelical tools to attract young people to the Church.  Theological training and other relevant ministry formation programs could be used to develop both clergy and laity.

MIGRANT, REFUGEES AND DISPLACED PEOPLE: this is a huge problem in Central American and the United States and many African States. We also have similar issues in the Virgin Islands. There is a need for churches to address treatment of migrant, immigrants and indigenous people.

YOUNG PEOPLE: Young people are vulnerable as a group in most contexts. The church must actively engage, include and empower young people.  Establishing school chaplaincy, enhancing school ministry and using ordinary youth activities as outreach strategies can help achieve the goal. Youth idealism and enthusiasm could be utilized appropriately to further evangelism.

RECONCILAITION: In the past the church participated in reconciliation processes as a way of ‘cleaning up their acts’ and when the gospel is deemed to be at stake. While these have opened doors for direct communication between churches and communities involved, it ought not to be the only reason for the churches’ participation in reconciliation. 

HIV/AIDS AND RELATED DISEASES: The group commended the Anglican Church in Melanesia for taking a leading role in the prevention, treatment and care among those affected and infected with HIV/AIDS and related diseases. Engagement with this program has given great integrity to the Christian Church and made it  an attractive community.

The following strategies have enabled the Church in various contexts to participate effectively in awareness creation and further evangelism in HIV/AIDS contexts:

      Training of trainers-sent out to train others at local levels.

      Integrating HIV/AIDS programs and diocesan programs.

      Setting up of resource centers for proper information distribution.

      Promoting sexual education & engaging church groups in awareness

                                  creation and education.

      Reinforcing pastoral care and counseling for those infected and /affected

      Promoting and supporting home based care

RESPONSE TO EMERGENCIES: An African saying, ‘an empty stomach has no ear’. Emergencies often hit the most poor and marginalized of society. There is a need for churches to identify these vulnerable groups and seek to improve their living standards through preaching the gospel in word and deed. 

RESPONSE TO DECLINE:  Contributors to decline are cynicism and burn out among some clergy, some clergy are less equipped for today’s society. There is a need to engage the society in non threatening ways, to contextualize evangelism strategies in the 21st century. Strategies such as:

        Promoting safe church.

        Finding fresh expressions of evangelism.

Mission, Action. Planning (Available on the website of Blackburn)

Mission 21 –a strategy based on Roy Oswald’s work at Alban Institute

Church planting, Church reboots.

Part of this process will also require a change of culture in dioceses and a redefinition of and reconstruction of the meaning of evangelism. 

CHRISTIAN VALUES: There is a growing lack of respect for Christian values in most contexts. As a result, the church should develop new ways of promoting scriptures and their teachings to empower others to spread the word of God. Bishops need to take a leading role in promoting and teaching of scripture. 

In the afternoon we had a new caveat introduced, Self-Select Sessions. These were sessions open to anyone interested in the topic. I stayed with the evangelism theme and selected Evangelism by Example. This was very intriguing as it had to do with personal evangelism and not the big tent, large screen tele-evangelist, or prosperity model. Evangelism by Example has to do with the way we live and move and have our being. Evangelism by Example takes us back to the basics of our faith. The faith we first learned from those around us, the spontaneous prayers and songs and expressions of praise and thanksgiving, the daily intercessions that folks commonly used as they walked their earthly pilgrimage.      

23rd July 2008 Seventh Day of Lambeth Conference

Ordinary Day 3: Transforming Society: The Bishop and Social Justice

After all the morning regulars we returned to our INDABA groups. We looked at a DVD presentation on the Millennium Development Goals (DMG) but did not have an opportunity to discuss the presentation because of our concern for the INDABA process. So we divided into four groups of ten to discuss a way forward that is faithful to the INDABA process. My group decided to discuss only two issues, the DMG’s, Human Sexuality and the Windsor process. These were concerns of the whole church even before we gathered for the conference.

After a brief introduction of the focus question for the day and logistics about London Day, a DVD on the Millennium Development Goals hosted by Hellen Wangusa was shown to the group. Before we address the day’s topic, we expressed our concern about process and content of the Indaba group.  The suggested out line prepared by the Design Group did allow enough time to discuss the focus questions. The following is a summary of our suggestions.

We will work in small groups of ten and then as a whole interchangeably using a process that encourage members to establish trust relationships, so we can discuss the focus questions fairly and honestly, without fear of recrimination.  We decided to look at Scripture since we had hermeneutical issues as to how we handle or interpret scripture in our various contexts and together. Then we will discuss Human sexuality, the Anglican Communion’s response to the Windsor Report, discuss, understand and respond to an Anglican Covenant, unity in the Anglican Communion, Mission, and the Millennium Development Goals.  

After lunch we went to a self selected session. The Windsor Continuation Group held a hearing. Some twenty one presenters shared with all those gathered the concerns in responding to the report. This was a good approach as others shared their concerns and raised issues not yet heard. It was concluded that there must be other opportunities for keeping this conversation going after the conference ends.  Our self-select sessions were our last major event for the evening followed by evening prayer and dinner.  

24 July 08 Eight Day of Lambeth Conference: London Day

Today breakfast began at 6:00am as we had to leave by coach for three significant events in London. First a Walk of Witness for the Millennium Development Goals entitled, Keep the Promise-Halve Poverty by 2015. We off loaded the coaches on Embankment across from the Thames one of London’s most famous rivers, then we walked to Whitehall Place where bishops, spouses and invited ecumenical guests assembled for the march of witness to Lambeth. Some marchers held up placards with the three key messages: Keep the Promise, Halve Poverty by 2015, and Do Justice, Love mercy, taken from Micah 6:8. It is interesting to note that along the march the Poverty and Justice Bibles which highlighted 2000 verses of scripture relating to poverty and justice were distributed.

Also during the march we were encouraged to reflect on the scriptures and morning prayers provided and to pray for the church, world leaders, the impoverished and suffering of this world. We marched passed Downing Street, the home of the Prime Minister, Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, St Margaret’s Church and Westminster Abbey, and finally made our way across Lambeth Bridge to Lambeth Palace, the London residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury, his other residence being in Canterbury.

In the garden of Lambeth Palace the second phase of our London visit took place as the Archbishop welcomed and addressed the conference reminding us repeatedly of the charge in Micah 6:8.

When the Archbishop finished his address, he invited two other guests to address the assembly. First to the podium was Hellen Wangusa, the Anglican Communion’s Observer to the United Nations. In her remarks she emphasized that more needs to be done if we are going to accomplish our stated mission of effectively addressing the issues we have identified in the Millennium Development Goals.

Next, The Prime Minister Gordon Brown was more forceful in his address as he challenged us to march in New York during the United Nations emergency session in September 08. When this ceremony ended we had a sit down lunch in a marquee in the garden of the Palace. After lunch we boarded our coaches and headed for Buckingham Palace.

We arrived at Buckingham Palace and after extreme scrutiny we passed through one of the Palace’s halls into the garden where we were entertained by two orchestras at diagonal ends of the garden. Many took the opportunity to walk around the royal gardens. While others sat in the shade as the weather was warm out in the sun and cool under a tree.  Refreshments were served as we waited for the Queen’s arrival accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh. Fifteen minutes before the time of their arrival, the guards took their positions, lines formed on both sides, and they whose hands the Royals will shake were briefed on the proper protocol.  Precisely at 1600 hours (4:00 pm) Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip appeared and walked to the line accompanied by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York. Both Archbishops introduced the line up to the Queen and Duke respectively. At about five fifteen the lines were formed again and the Royals left the Tea Party. By five thirty we headed to our coaches for the journey back to Canterbury and the University of Kent where we were greed with box dinners on our arrival.  

25 July 2008 Ninth Day of Lambeth Conference

Ordinary Day 4: serving together: Bishop and other churches

Our day began with the usual services, breakfast and Bible study. We are on to something in these bible studies. Trust is developing and we are sharing more openly that when we first began. Today we looked at Jesus saying, ‘Before Abraham was, I AM’ John 8: 31-59. I was the facilitator. We were asked to position ourselves in the story as Jews who had believed in Jesus. What do we find particularly difficult or congenial about the words of Jesus.  What might be the kind of traditions that are dangerous for us in our churches today?

After bible study in Eliot Hall building we journeyed to Keynes building for our Indaba Group. Today we formed our chairs in a circle and met in full session. All our future Indabas will follow this design.

Provincial meetings were held after lunch followed by Self Select sessions. Our final plenary session today was an address by Professor Chris Rapley, Director of the Science Museum since 2007, well known expert in climate change. The topic was, Given the ecological crisis, what is the role of the Church?

This was a serious and startling presentation as models and statistics were presented about the effects on the planet’s ecological system since the last one hundred and fifty years after the Industrial Revolution in comparison to all the centuries before. The conclusions were that prior to the Industrial Revolution, the ecosystem could correct itself, but the rate with which the last one hundred and fifty years has impacted the ecosystem, it is almost impossible to correct the harmful effects.

As a result, immediately, there will be more severe periods of drought, more severe periods of rain fall eroding the top soils of food-growing countries and as a consequence, mass starvation. Deserts will continue to grow rapidly. The polar ice is continuing to melt at a rapid pace, the sun will get warmer, low lying areas of the world’s major cities will be under water; island nations will disappear under the rising tides. We saw models of Big Ben, Westminster Abby and the Houses of Parliament all under several feet of water as the River Thames will over flow the Embankment. References were made to the flooding that accompanied Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana and the inability of those areas affected to fully recover.

Another consequence of global warning in the long run will be that mosquito borne diseases that can kill humans (malaria) once eradicated in western societies will reappear as fresh water lakes are warmed by the sun. Countries that were not accustomed to experiencing intense sun temperatures will do so increasingly. More people will die from heat related complications. Skin cancer deaths will increase from sun exposure.

If there is any thing that should get our attention is these alarming projections. England is experiencing a heat wave that they never projected. Their buildings were not designed to deal with extreme heat. In some areas of the world governments are beginning to respond to the looming crisis. We cannot leave it for governments alone to do. We must assist in the process. We can all plant a tree.   

26 July 2008 Tenth Day of Lambeth Conference

Ordinary Day 5: Safe guarding Creation: the Bishop and the Environment

Today, after the usual morning events we continued our bible study from John 9:1-41, I AM the man. Our Indaba Group should have discussed Safeguarding Creation: the Bishop and the Environment which would have been a follow-up to the presentation from the previous evening. Unfortunately, because of our need to discuss human sexuality, we did not address anything from the presentation the previous evening. After lunch we assembled in Rochet and Chimere for several group pictures. The face of Lambeth Conference has been permanently altered as more women and people of color of every shade from all across the spectrum are represented. When our photo sessions ended, because of the design of events for the program, we were given the afternoon off to prepare for the many possible worship opportunities available the following day. 

27 July 07 Eleventh Day of Lambeth Conference

Options one, two and three,

After breakfast at 8:00 am coaches took delegates to the Canterbury Cathedral for the 11:00 am Eucharist followed by hospitality in the precincts and the opportunity to just wander around this ancient city. Later in the afternoon coaches took those who were interested to St Augustine’s Abbey for a civic reception hosted by the Mayor of Canterbury.

The second option was for delegates to be hosted by a particular prior arranged congregation for the day and then deliver their guests to St Augustine’s Abbey to join the other guests of the mayor.

The third option was for delegates to take the time to do whatever was necessary for them. Some accompany family members to the airport, others went to church with friends and/or family in other parts of the country. I took the latter, thereby spending the evening prior and most of this day with relatives in Slough, worshiping with them at St Peter’s, Chalvey.  

28 July 2008 Twelfth Day of Lambeth Conference Ordinary Day 6 : Engaging A Multi-Faith World : The Bishop, Christian Witness and other Faiths

In our bible study we looked at John 10:1-10 I am the gate. We discussed what it means for us to think of Jesus as the gate that both invites the world into the church and urges the sheep to follow Jesus trustingly into the world; and what dimensions of voice are needed for leading God’s people? Is it the pastoral voice, familiar with our people and their needs, the prophetic voice warning people of thieves and bandits, and/or the voice of proclamation announcing that Jesus is the gate to salvation that is needed in our situation? 

The theme of our Indaba Group was a general sharing on living under scripture, fostering common life, listening to God and each other, and the bishop and human sexuality. This activity was done in plenary. The exercise was foundational to discussing topics of living under scripture, fostering a common life, and listening to God, each other, diversity of context, and lack on unanimity within provinces. 

Our next self-select session and hearing was on the third document of the Windsor Continuation. This document is an attempt to propose language with which everyone at the table can agree. It calls for the continuation of moratoria of same sex blessings, consecration of gay bishops in partnered relationships, the creation of a pastoral forum and the end of cross border interventions. We concluded that we should have other opportunities to continue refining this document during the conference.  

The evening plenary was an address by the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth, Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks, entitled, Exposition of the Hebrew Scriptures: the relationship between the people and God- the Covenant. The Rabbi spoke of the role of Judaism and Christianity in society. He referenced the situation during World War II when circumstances, a common cause, forced both groups in a Covenant of Fate. Such a covenant arises out of the shared sufferings and the common fate of groups of people.  He examined the biblical meaning of covenant which is about love, trust, and cooperation which helps keep society together. This is similar to the covenant that marked the relationship of Moses and God. It is his assertion that we continue to seek out such a relationship in our own lives.

The word ‘covenant’ in Hebrew is the same as betroth. In the Hebrew Bible the Prophet Hosea said, God betroth himself to his people. A covenant is a betrothal. There are three covenants in the Books of Genesis and Exodus- the Covenant with Noah Genesis 9, the one with Abraham, Genesis 17, and the one with the Israelites in the days of Moses Exodus 19-24. The Rabbi said that neither one supersedes and replaces the other.

In essence there are only two covenants. A Covenant of Fate necessitated by a common suffering together in strife, and a Covenant of Faith with people who share dreams, ideas and aspirations. Such covenants of cooperation sustain our social order and when they break down, society breaks down. Global powers these days seem intent on taking life and harming the environment, and the power of technology are breaking people up into small groups of like-minded people. To counteract these processes we need to emulate the covenant with Noah in three ways: we respect human life, as evidenced in the prohibition of the shed blood; we respect the integrity of the environment, as evidenced in God’s promise not to destroy the earth; and that we respect diversity, as evidenced in the rainbow that shows all colors forming one. The Anglican Communion is one of the most long lasting religious fellowships in the world and as such is a part of the landscape of hope for the future. He challenged the churches of the Anglican Communion to stay together, to forgive one another, to hold hands, and be a blessing to the world.    

29 July 2008 Thirteenth Day of Lambeth Conference

Ordinary Day 7 : Equal in God’s Sight: When Power is Abused

For the first time we had a joint plenary session in place of bible study which was scheduled for the evening. The bishops and spouses, over fourteen hundred in all, met under the Big Top. The Principal of St John’s College New Zealand, Jenny Plane Te-Paa gave the key note address. This session was facilitated by Professor Gerald West, the head of the Bible Study Team. After the address, we were presented with a dramatization of several stories of the New Testament about women who were not always visible to the religious leaders of the time, women who were oppressed or marginalized by power and to whom Jesus offered healing. It was a moving dramatization as it demonstrated how often we do not notice the women in the gospel whose roles are very significant.  For this session the men and women were separated because some women did not feel safe sharing their stories in the presence of men, including their husbands.

Therefore in small same sex groups of two or three we read, discussed, and responded to eight questions on the story of the Rape of Tamar in Second Samuel 13. We looked at the relationship of violence against women and our common life. It was observed in the story the real danger of men keeping silent and refusing to acknowledge of gender violence.   For the first time we were forced to examine the character, moral convictions and inner strength of Tamar not to keep her violation a secret. She behaved in such a way that exposed her perpetrator and she also told her brother what the eldest brother did. This was a powerful session. We concluded by looking at the abuse of power in the church. One would be surprised to learn what is considered an abuse of power.

Soon after lunch all the bishops of The Episcopal Church met for a brief provincial meeting for the purpose of update, discussion, and announcement, fellowship with other bishops from across Africa who wanted to visit and discuss the possibilities of partnerships in ministry.

This was followed by our continued bible study from the book of John 10:1-10, I am the Good Shepherd. We looked at the shepherding ministry of Jesus and the call of bishops to share in that ministry.

The evening ended on a very high note. At the conclusion of evening prayer, the Archbishop of Canterbury gave his second presidential address. If we keep in mind the Rabbi’s address the evening before where he spoke of two covenants one of Fate and the other of Faith, we will see more clearly the approach the ABC is taking. It became clear in the address that the ABC desire for a covenant as a way for bringing this Communion together. The issue is not whether or not we should have a covenant, but what kind of covenant it should be. As the Rabbi Sacks seemed to suggest, both are necessary. One usually produces the other. The present crises the Anglican Communion faces may just make us realize that we need such a covenant.  

30 July 2008 14th Day of Lambeth Conference

Ordinary Day 8 Living Under Scripture and the Bible in Mission 

In our bible study today we discussed John 11:1-44 I am the resurrection and the life.  Each one of us had to give an interpretation of the passage and then say what is Anglican about the passage?  Lazarus was sick. His sisters sent to call Jesus, Jesus did not come right away. Lazarus died, and was buried. His sisters had faith that if Jesus was there, things would not have turned out the way they did, and even now Jesus can made a difference. Jesus arrived and asked to see where Lazarus was buried. By this time Lazarus was in the grave four days before Jesus arrived to raise him from the dead. While all the scenes in the passage represent the state of the church at this time, Jesus can make a difference if we only believe. Therefore there is hope for the Anglican Communion.

By this time in our Indaba Group we had already decided to begin looking at human sexuality. Every one was given an opportunity to present their diocesan or provincial position. The church in Africa claims to be ridiculed by the actions of the church in the West. The bishops and Archbishops present from those provinces do not have the context to explain to their people and those of other faiths, what reasoning brought the church in the West to the present conclusion that is a justice issue to ordain openly gay people and bless those in same sex unions. They are asking for us to enlighten them as to our justification for such an action.

Most of the African bishops who did not attend the conference did so because their dioceses specifically asked them not to go. Muslims are critical of the Anglican Church in many African countries because they do not understand how the Church can arrive at such a conclusion to bless same sex partners or even agree that that life style is wholesome and God ordained. Some provinces defended their position and do not see the need to apologize for the pain other dioceses suffer. Other provinces see the Windsor Resolution 110 as binding: The request for all provinces of the Anglican Communion to refrain from ordaining and consecrating person living in same sex partnerships, providing rites for same sex blessings, and bishops crossing into other bishops jurisdictions with out permission or invitation. There was a lot of energy in these Indaba sessions. And the polarization seemingly remains.

It was interesting to note that the addresses delivered previously impacted many of the hearers and helped to inform our sharing as they were referenced during our discussions. A common theme in our sharing was the desire to find a way forward that encourages members of the Communion to acknowledge and live with differences. The group generally agreed to a kind of covenant, preferably a covenant of love based on shared tradition, shared scripture and mutual love. This was stated mindful that with a covenant sacrifices are expected from both parties. To this end if a covenant is made cooperation, positive relations between the parties, educative emphasis to balance the juridical, perhaps a place for identifying matters that remained unfinished among churches must all be included.

The Self Select session I attended in the afternoon was, Bishops: both Pastors and Managers of Clergy.  This session explored the dual role of bishops in relation to their clergy- as both pastors and managers/appraisers- can offer challenge. This session sought to share good practices in this area, to enable bishops and clergy to work constructively and creatively together to further God’s mission. There was much discussion on Title III on Ministry and IV on Discipline of the Canons of the Episcopal Church. We also heard about policies and procedures in others parts of the Communion.  

Today we learned that of the Thirty eight provinces and United Churches of the Anglican Communion, thirty-five were present at the Lambeth Conference. Over two hundred bishops and archbishops did not attend the conference in protest. The provinces of Nigeria, Rwanda, and Uganda had not attended. There were also some absences of Australian, English, Kenyan, South East Asian, the Southern Cone, and Tanzanian bishops.  

31 July 2008 15th Day of Lambeth Conference

Ordinary Day 9: Listening to God & Each Other: the Bishop and Human Sexuality

In our Bible Study we read John 13:31-14:14 “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” Then we responded with examples to the following question, how has John’s radical paradox, that God’s glory is most visible in moments of apparent weakness and vulnerability, been part of your church’s story? I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” How do you understand these words in the light of your specific geographical and religious context, particularly as you engage in ‘respectful evangelism’? What is the question you would have wanted to ask Jesus if you had been there among his group of friends at the Last Supper? 

Our Indaba Group represented seventeen provinces of the Anglican Communion in addition to our ecumenical partners from the Evangelical Lutheran Church, the Moravian Church, and the Church of Scotland. We also had a representative from the Wesleyan Holiness Church. It would be interesting to note that we had as an ecumenical partner a representative from the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Britain. He told a story of both the Anglican and SDA using the same building for worship. From these Indaba groups reports are given to the Reflection Group who collates all the reports and produce a single document the following day. 

In working groups of ten members we began to look at some issues of the covenant. The aim was to point out what may be useful to the Communion from the groups’ perspective and fed into the covenant. It was evident that there was need for some kind of agreement or covenant that would help to guide us forward. A covenant must be open to enable us all to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with our God.

The following were proposed principles: Emphasis on a covenant of cooperation. Assessment of positive relations between parties; Provide freedom and circumscribed pluralism to avoid relativism; Common Vision; Anglican Identity; Cooperation; we will stay in Communion, while we must recognize our interdependence and accept the challenges of our diversity. There must be mutual respect for differences and dignity of each other. Such an agreement will require sacrifices by all of us. This is a matter that should not wait for ten years before we can address it. There may be need for a meeting of Lambeth in five years.  

1 August 2008 16th Day of Lambeth Conference Ordinary Day 10: Fostering our Common Life: The Bishop, the Anglican Covenant and the Windsor Process

Our Bible Study continued with our reading of John 15:1-17, the last of the I AM statements, “I am the true Vine.” We discussed what were the fruits, according to the text of abiding in the vine? Immediately we thought of the nine fruit of the Spirit Gal 5:22. But John’s reading did not make it that easy for us. We had to read the passage and discover the benefits of abiding in the vine. Words like asking, discipleship, love, joy, friendship, knowledge, commissioning, all seem to be fruit given to those who abide in the vine. 

We also looked at the John 13:10 where Jesus said, “You have already been cleansed/pruned by the word that I have spoken to you”.  In relation to our own ministry, how do we use the word of Jesus to bring forth fruit among the people? There was a long discussion of Jesus command to love one another and what does it mean in our own context. Does this love involve pruning”? 

There were two Indaba group sessions scheduled today. The Design Team knew we would need more time to engage in the discussion of the creation of a covenant that would be pleasing to thirty eight provinces whether or not all thirty eight were present.  We had our regular morning session and an additional session in the afternoon. 

The Archbishop had already decided that we would not revisit the Windsor Report of Lambeth 1998 because the mind of the Communion had not changed much since its existence. Our discussion centered on how we can be faithful to the expectations of the Windsor process and any covenant created must contain some reference to Windsor Resolution I.10 which contained seven statements of where the Anglican Communion stands in reference to Human Sexuality. This conference:

1. commends to the church the subsection report on human sexuality;
2. in view of the teaching of scripture, upholds faithfulness in marriage between a man and a woman in lifelong union, and believes that abstinence is right for those who are not called to marriage;
3. recognizes that there are among us persons who experience themselves as having a homosexual orientation. Many are members of the church and are seeking pastoral care, moral direction of the church, and God’s transforming power for the living of their lives and the ordering of relationships. We commit ourselves to listen to the experience of homosexual persons an we wish to assure them that they are loved by God and that all baptized, believing and faithful persons, regardless of sexual orientation, are full members of the Body of Christ;
4. while rejecting homosexual practice as incompatible with scripture, calls on all people to minister pastorally and sensitively to all irrespective of sexual orientation and to condemn irrational fear of homosexuals, violence within marriage and any trivialization and commercialization of sex;
5. cannot advise the legitimizing or blessing of same sex unions nor ordaining those involved in same gender unions;
6. request the Primates and Anglican Consultative Council (ACC) to establish a means of monitoring the work done on the subject of human sexuality in the Communion and to share statements and resources among unions;
7. notes the significance of the Kuala Lumpur statement on Human Sexuality and the concerns expressed in resolutions IV.26, V.1, V.10, V.23 and v 35 on the authority of scripture in matters of marriage and sexuality an asks the Primates and the ACC to include them in their monitoring process.

We stressed the importance of creating a document that will hold the Communion together. In evaluating the potential for a covenant, members were reminded of the Bible Study text for the day from John 15:1-17, “I am the true vine”. What does it mean to lay down one’s life for another? What are we willing to forsake to come to a resolution? Are we able to come up with a document that includes all voices including the voices of those who lost the argument? Because bishops are expected to tell the story to their dioceses upon their return, the following was suggested as potential for a way forward.

     Restate Lambeth I.10 ( without necessarily opening it up for debate as indicated by

                  Archbishop Rowan.

     Reaffirm a moratorium- to be respected by both parties

     Reaffirm the establishment of a Pastoral Forum

The afternoon INDABA session picked up where we left off before lunch with a ‘possible way forward’. There was concern to produce a document that is much wider and takes into consideration the possibility of other issues that may arise in the future. The group agreed on the following nine point plan as a possible way forward together as a Communion:

1. To affirm the Place of Scripture in the Anglican Church, as expressed in the 

      Lambeth 2008 report.  

1. To affirm an inheritance as the AC, with all its inadequacies.
2. To affirm former Lambeth Conferences and the continuing moral force of their     

      statements.

1. To affirm the good faith of the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church of Canada in the regrets which they have expressed and in the moratoria to which they have agreed.
2. To affirm the longstanding Communion policy on territorial and jurisdiction matters and find ways of resolving the present rash of incursions.

6. To affirm that the Anglican Communion has historically held theologically divergent views and have managed to stay together after four hundred and Fifty years

7. To affirm that we have an agreed policy to provide pastoral care to all regardless of sexual orientation.

8. To affirm the continuing need to distinguish between membership of the church, and criteria for leadership.

9. To affirm the continuing need to provide adequate and acceptable arrangements for pastoral care in the case of conscientious disagreement and Episcopal care.   

Many of the ideas that were shared during these sessions today will be collated and distributed the following day for our perusal, continued discussion, and modification.

After dinner there were fringe events anyone could attend. I attended a presentation, by clergy and laity from the Church of England and The Episcopal Church entitled, Affirming Catholicism, Inspiring Hope in the Episcopal Church. This movement seeks to bring together and strengthen lay and ordained people who recognize the positive, inclusive and joyful currents in the Catholic tradition of Christianity.   

2 August 2008 17th Day of Lambeth Conference Ordinary Day 11: Fostering our Common Life: Bishop, the Anglican Covenant and the Windsor Process Continued

Our Bible Study today came from John 18:1-18, For whom are you looking, the betrayal and arrest of Jesus which contained another ‘I am’, but without the previous metaphors (bread, way, truth, life, resurrection, gate, good shepherd, vine, etc.) After reading the scripture and the assigned meditation of the passage, we wrestled with the following two questions. What does it mean for you that the last ‘I am’ is spoken in this scene.  It reminded us of Jesus on the cross after seeing that all things were accomplished in his ministry proclaimed, ‘it is finished’. Jesus had responded to the needs of the people, trained others to carry on the mission and ministry God invited them to share, after having become in some small way the bread of life for many, the way, the truth, and the life, the resurrection, he was ready to be the I AM WHO I AM.

The next question was even more challenging than the first. What might the kind of leadership that Jesus shows in the garden mean in our own ministry? When the army arrived, Jesus came forward and asked whom they sought.  Jesus did not give the enemy the opportunity to interrogate or hold anyone hostage. We came forwarded as if to say he was in control of the situation. Often as leaders we wait in the background to see what will happen or until there are a few casualties before we decide how we will act or take action. Jesus did the opposite. He stepped forward and asked the question and identified himself, thereby minimizing the casualties.  

If we followed the passages of scripture from John’s gospel and the themes they presented to us each day, we should leave the conference much more prepared to face the challenges of ministry. Already we would have faced the challenges daily in our Indaba groups as we seek a common mind in our daily deliberations in the attempt to develop a statement/covenant that best expressed our Anglican identity.

INDABA today continued with the theme from the previous day, Fostering our Common Life: The Bishop, the Anglican Covenant and the Windsor Process.  Wee reviewed the actions of the previous day and then discussed our tentative proposal further. There was much energy in the group of forty. We looked at the revised Possible Way Forward from the previous day, and concluded with a few minor changes that we will accept it and send it to the group who will be working on a draft of the covenant.    

The evening plenary, another of the few times the entire conference met together, consisted of a session where the stewards, who had assisted us to find our way around the campus not only from building to building but even in large campus buildings for the entire time, shared their experiences of the conference, their vision of the church, and the role of youth in the present church. One of the most interesting things coming from all the young people who spoke was the fact that it did not matter whether they were from South African to North America and all the boundaries in between, they had a common theme.  Music, drama, dance, relevant sermons, the need to feel heard and respected were common expressions of the presenters. . The young adults of our churchy want to hear our stories of the past (South Africa), and they want us to listen to their fears and doubts and help to guide them in the right way. Some showed DVD clipping of events in their communities as a demonstration that they are not only saying things, but those things are actually happening in their dioceses.

After the presentation many questions were asked of the young people. Again the issues and concerns young people have are universal and not just confined to one geographical part of the world. The entire Anglican Communion is impacted by the events that are taking place in the lives of young people. They are crying out for attention, direction and meaning in life. The church is their only hope. That is the place where they can be introduced to Jesus. One of the questions asked of the youth presenters was, what they liked about the Jesus Story. As if they were privy to our study of John’s gospel, all their illustrations came from John’s gospel.  They stated their understanding of Jesus meeting the woman at the well and holding a conversation with her, and how the woman’s outlook on life was changed after that encounter. Others claimed that Jesus’ reaction to Lazarus, his compassion, and his emotions when others cried impacted their lived and made them want to know more about this Jesus.  

3 August 2008 18th and Final Day of Lambeth Conference

Preparing to Go Home: The Bishop as a Leader in God’s Mission 

This last day of the conference began like all the other days, ‘The morning was gray with a scotch mist turning in to drizzling rain.’ Our morning sessions were exactly like all the other mornings. Our concluding Bible Study came from John 20:19-31 “That through believing you may have life in his name”. Our Indaba groups finalized the tentative language for a proposed Anglican Covenant which will be developed for review before acceptance. Some argued that we have existed for over four hundred and fifty years without a covenant and they do not see the need for one at this time. Interestingly enough, all our guest speakers and ecumenical guests reiterated the need for a covenant if we are going to remain as the Anglican Communion.

Our finally plenary for the day consisted of remarks from ecumenical guests, the leaders of the Spouses’ Conference, chaired by the spouses of the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, Mrs. Jane Williams and Mrs. Margaret Sentamu, and a youth forum. While the previous speakers gave comments on their observations of the conference or the events of their particular conference, the youth presence was the most telling. They spoke of not only what they observed of us, but more so, what they hope to receive from us as young people growing up in the church. The young people had been at Canterbury even before we got there preparing to host us as we journey through buildings, and across the campus. They were everywhere we had to traverse. They came from continents and islands, from South Africa, Europe and North America. Their hopes and fears were the same. Everything they hoped for, to be heard and respected, involvement in the life of the church, lively music, sermons that are relevant and connect with their experiences, Drama, hip hop, indigenous instruments and music, Gospel drama, everything that we have heard from our young people in this diocese was expressed at Lambeth Conference.

The conference seemed to have been strategically designed to end in such a way that we would go back to our dioceses not worrying about human sexuality, an adult activity, but after hearing the hopes and needs and dreams of the young people in congregations and communities, to develop methods to address the crisis we have all across the world beginning with our own communities. The Church still has a mission to fulfill. Rabbi Sacks suggested that the Anglican Church still has a mission to fulfill as the church reaches out to the communities in which it finds itself.  

Our final activity for the day was the closing Eucharist at Canterbury Cathedral followed by a reception planned for the Cathedral Grounds but because of inclement weather, was hosted in separate buildings to accommodate the large gathering.  

4 August 2004  Departures

Coaches began leaving the University of Kent campus at 3:00am. I took a 4:00am coach. Because August is a holiday month in Britain, it was assumed and rightly so, that the traffic getting to Heathrow Airport would be hectic. We were advised to leave six hours before the flight time. The hospitality of the Lambeth Conference did not end with the closing service on Sunday evening. Even at the airport stewards assisted us to find our way to the correct airline counters. 

In conclusion, I would say that there were many aspects of the conference that impacted my life and ministry. Hearing from our brothers from Africa of their concerns and challenges as the Anglican Church in their context made me realize how much our actions in the West impacts others in other places. The INDABA process of engaging a community into meaningful dialogue, new to the western mindset, was most helpful.  May we in this diocese learn from our brothers and sisters in other parts of our Communion how to address the issues affecting our common life!   

                                                + AMBROSE