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Lambeth encounters strengthened relationships
Tensions linger as bishops discuss covenant, moratoria
If the basis for discerning the success of the decennial gathering of Anglican bishops is whether the bishops resolved the tensions pulling at the communion, the answer would have to be no.
If, on the other hand, the basis of that discernment is whether the bishops committed themselves to remaining in communion -- and communication -- with each other, then the answer would have to be yes.
In between those two extremes remain, as always, many shades of gray and varying degrees of uncertainty as the communion's members face what will be a year or more of meetings, conversations and predictions of lines drawn in the sand.
Many bishops came to the Lambeth Conference "in fear and trembling, expecting either a distasteful encounter between those of vastly different opinions, or the cold shoulder from those who disagree," Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori said on the
gathering's final day, August 3.
"The overwhelming reality has been just the opposite," she said, explaining that the bishops and spouses "prayed, cried, learned, and laughed together, and discovered something deeper about the body of Christ."
"We have not resolved the differences among us, but have seen the deep need to maintain relationships, even in the face of significant disagreement and discomfort," she said.
It is also important to note that an estimated 230 bishops, some of whom most strongly assert that such issues are indeed breaking the communion, chose to boycott the 18-day gathering.
A 44-page document meant to reflect the experience of the bishops who did attend the conference outlines the conversations that took place during the gathering.
While it is not meant, as some observers have warned, to be taken as legislation that must be enacted and enforced, the document does call for actions that they hope will ease the tension in the communion.
There was also at least one new suggestion: a "pastoral forum" that would rapidly "engage theologically and practically with situations of controversy as they arise or divisive actions that may be taken around the communion," according to the original proposal made midway through the conference by the Windsor Continuation Group. The group suggested that forum would operate at least until an expected covenant ratification process is finished.
The reflections document reported "clear majority support" for such a body, "a desire to see it in place speedily" and a sense that the forum's "intent should always be moving towards reconciliation" of dissidents to their own provinces.
The section of the reflections document dealing with human sexuality reiterates the disagreements and divisions facing the communion and lists some possible solutions offered by the bishops.
They range from "decisive action" -- to live out Jesus' teaching in Matthew 5:29 that if your right eye causes you to sin, it
ought to be torn out and thrown away -- to declaring a "Decade of Sharing and Generosity."
There is, the document says, a desire "from all quarters" to uphold Windsor Report-recommended moratoria on ordinations of persons living in a same-gender unions to the episcopate, on authorized public rites for blessing same-gender unions, and on cross-border incursions by bishops. However, it cautions that the moratoria "will be difficult to uphold."
There were also "many positive responses to the idea" of a proposed Anglican covenant, the reflections document reports. Also reported is a "strong sense" that the appendix of the current St. Andrew's Draft (called Framework Procedures for the Resolution
of Covenant Disputes) "could be too legalistic, too difficult to implement and too punitive."
The outcome of the Lambeth Conference will be discussed over the next months in a series of meetings.
The Episcopal Church's House of Bishops is due to meet September 17-19 in Salt Lake City.
The communion's Covenant Design Group will meet at the end of September.
In the meantime, the Windsor Continuation Group has said it will meet sometime this fall to consider the bishops' response to its suggestion of a pastoral forum.
In addition, Williams has said that he will convene a meeting of the communion's primates early in 2009.
The communion's provinces have until the end of March 2009 to comment on the St. Andrew's draft of the covenant. They have been asked to also say if they believe in principle that they can commit to the covenant, what provincial process is required for that commitment and what changes to the St. Andrew's Draft would give them the greatest chance of being able to make the commitment.
The Episcopal Church's Executive Council has said it will consider its response to the St. Andrew's Draft during its next meeting, October 20-23 in Helena, Montana.
A new draft of the covenant is not expected until the design group meets in London in April 2009. That draft is meant to go to the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC) at a previously scheduled May 2009 meeting. The ACC could decide to release that version to the communion's member provinces for their approval.
It is not clear whether the 76th General Convention of the Episcopal Church, meeting July 8-17, 2009 in Anaheim, California, would consider such a proposal.
Already on the calendar is a special meeting of the Joint Standing Committee of the Primates and the ACC in November 2009.
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