Archbishop of Canterbury to make debut appearance at General Convention

By Matthew Davies, July 07, 2009 [Episcopal News Service] Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams will begin a busy schedule of meetings July 8 as he arrives in Anaheim, California to spend two days engaging with representatives at the Episcopal Church's General Convention.

Attending convention for the first time, Williams will make a keynote presentation addressing the world's economic crisis during a panel discussion, which will be webcast live July 8 on the General Convention media hub.

On July 8, Williams will meet with President of the House of Deputies Bonnie Anderson and her Council of Advice and have a conversation with the official youth delegates at the meeting, 18 young people selected from across the Episcopal Church.

Williams will participate in some of the worship services at General Convention, including offering a brief meditation during a July 9 Community Eucharist.

Eight members of the Episcopal Church's House of Deputies (clergy and lay members) are scheduled to meet privately with Williams in a session that is intended in part to address lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) issues in the church.

Williams is also scheduled to meet with the provisional bishops of the dioceses of Fort Worth, Pittsburgh, Quincy and San Joaquin to hear about the renewal in those places after the former bishops attempted to lead those dioceses out of the Episcopal Church.

Before returning to England July 9 in time for the Church of England's main legislative gathering, General Synod, Williams will visit the triennial gathering of Episcopal Church Women (ECW) and meet with Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori and her Council of Advice.

Williams is among 70 international visitors and one of 15 Anglican Communion primates attending the covnention.

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