Church of England Bishops Threaten Lambeth Conference Boycott
The worldwide Anglican Communion is heading towards a fresh breakdown in communications, after as many as ten Church of England bishops indicated that they may boycott 2008’s Lambeth Conference.
by Daniel Blake
Posted: Friday, July 27, 2007, 10:52 (BST)
The worldwide Anglican Communion is heading towards a fresh breakdown in communications, after as many as ten Church of England bishops indicated that they may boycott 2008’s Lambeth Conference.
A number of Global South bishops have already raised the possibility of a boycott to be arranged in protest of the liberal stance of the US and Canadian wings of the Church towards homosexuality.
However, a boycott by the Church of England bishops would be an unprecedented event in Anglican history and would signify a new low in the current arguments taking place in the Communion.
The Times newspaper has reported that one of the most senior bishops in the Church of England, regarded as the homeland of Anglicanism, has said that between six and 10 bishops in England would discuss a boycott if The Episcopal Church in the US did not give up its liberal attitude towards homosexuality in the Church.
The Bishop of Winchester, the Rt Rev Michael Scott-Joynt, was speaking to the Church of Ireland Gazette, which is the journal of the Anglican Church in Ireland. He revealed that up to ten diocesan and suffragan bishops, from the Church's evangelical and Anglican-Catholic wings, would be "constrained" in their protest only by their loyalty to the Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams.
Earlier this year, controversy broke out over the approaching 2008 Lambeth Conference as invitations were sent out to Anglican leaders across the globe. Eight bishops were excluded on the grounds that their presence could bring further disharmony.
According to The Times, the openly gay Bishop Gene Robinson will in fact be invited as a guest to Lambeth 2008 in a “non-voting capacity”, overturning the previous announcement that he had not been invited to the gathering.
On Monday, Archbishop of York John Sentamu warned Anglican conservatives from the Global South that boycotting the summit next year would mean they had effectively expelled themselves from the worldwide communion.
Global South traditionalists signalled after a meeting in London earlier this month that they were unlikely to attend next year's meeting of the Lambeth Conference, the 10-yearly gathering of Anglican leaders.
"It is impossible for us to see how, without discipline in the communion and without the reconciliation that we urge, we can participate in the proposed conference," they said.
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Added: Saturday, July 28, 2007, 11:23 (BST)
I am constantly amazed that this world is torn apart by men killing each other and yet the Church comes out, guns blazing, when they scent that two men love each other.
Why, oh why, does the Church not address itself to the areas of life that really matter to the world, homosexuality is not in this category and is not an issue in most cultures.
john campling, Morocco
Added: Saturday, July 28, 2007, 3:02 (BST)
Clearly, the bishops of the Global South and the reported 10 Bishops of the Church of England with Bishop Scott-Joynt still do not understand that the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church of the United States do not permit the House of Bishops to act independently of the House of Deputies, the Clerical and Lay Delegates to the next General Convention in 2009. There will be no statement of agreement with the demands by September 30, 2007. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Lambeth, the Primates, or the Anglican Consultative Council do not have executive or legislative authority over the Episcopal Church of the U. S., and never have.
The Revd James K. Taylor, Cicero, New York, USA
Added: Friday, July 27, 2007, 23:05 (BST)
Sir,
I read about this issue again and again, and honestly I believe the devil must be laughing at the Church of England. Why? The selfishness of Gene Robinson (own way versus Communion's way) and now possibly the Global South's (their way vs Communion's way), could mean the end of the Anglican Communion. The devil is laughing hard. It does not need to take a believer to see how dangerous all this selfishness is. But it is so easy for the non-believer to laugh and ridicule the Church of England. Is the God that all of us believe in so powerless in the light of this feared schism? Is anyone on their knees crying to God? Will all this bear bad testimony of Jesus? How can we reach out to people if our church itself cannot solve itself out? Can all parties involved see how detrimental this is, rather than expressing their own views and want it to be the one followed? Is the Bible not absolute anymore, just some wishy-washy set of rules that can be suited to our needs?
Andrew C, London, UK
Added: Friday, July 27, 2007, 17:46 (BST)
To date John Sentamu has hardly distinguished himself as an unequivocal supporter of orthodox biblical christianity. His reaction to those Bishops who seek to maintain the integrity of the "faith once delivered" reinforces this point. Perhaps he should be reminded that it is not these who being rebellious but rather those from the Episcopal Church who refuse to repent of the position they have adopted over homosexual practices. It is simply mind boggling that John Sentamu should be voicing this unwarranted criticism at a time when he should be pushing hard
against those from the Episcopal church who are thumbing their noses at those who uphold the biblical faith. It makes one wonder as to whose side he will take, as he most certainly will have to make up his mind before long.
Norman Shannon, Par UK
