Archbishop of Canterbury to Visit US Episcopal Church

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has announced plans to visit the United States this autumn in response to the invitation from the House of Bishops of the US Episcopal Church.

Speaking at a press conference in Toronto, Dr Williams said he would undertake the visit together with members of the Standing Committee of the Primates and the Anglican Consultative Council: "I look forward to some sharing of our experiences as pastors as well as discussion of the business of the Communion."

The Episcopal Church's House of Bishops had expressed "an urgent need for us to meet face to face with the Archbishop of Canterbury and the members of the Primates' Standing Committee".

The request came as the second of three "mind of the house" resolutions was adopted by the bishops on March 20. The resolutions were debated in the business session scheduled during the House of Bishops' annual spring retreat meeting in Navasota, Texas.

In the resolution, addressed to the Episcopal Church's Executive Council, the House of Bishops said it "affirms its desire that the Episcopal Church remain a part of the councils of the Anglican Communion" and "pledges itself to continue to work to find ways of meeting the pastoral concerns of the Primates that are compatible with our own polity and canons".

Dr Williams, the spiritual head of the Anglican Communion, said: "These are complicated days for our church internationally and its all the more important to keep up personal relationships and conversations. ....my aim is to try and keep people around the table for as long as possible on this, to understand one another, and to encourage local churches."