Almost all of the 38 Primates of the Anglican Communion are in Alexandria, Egypt, for a week of talks on measures to preserve unity in the Church.
Primates will spend part of the week discussing the draft Anglican Covenant, a document outlining plans for a “two-tier” structure that would keep provinces at odds over thorny issues like sexuality remain “in communion” with one another in spite of their differences.
The meeting at the Helnan Palestine Hotel was called for during last summer’s Lambeth Conference and talks will take place behind closed doors.
Five Primates from differing theological positions will give a presentation on the effect the row over sexuality is having on their provinces while other topics on the agenda will include global warming, the credit crunch and the Anglican Communion’s renewed commitment to development work.
At a service to dedicate St Mark’s pro-cathedral in Alexandria on Sunday, the first day of the gathering, the Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams told the primates to see Jesus in each other.
It is important to remember that “the person praying next to me is a person in whom Jesus is praying”, he said.
“The force of energy of Jesus’ life [is] in them. When I diminish them, I am in danger of destroying Jesus’ voice in them.”
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