Home at last! I arrived home Monday night actually, but my brain was completely fuddled so I did not try to write.
Sunday morning there was a Morning Prayer service led by the Chaplaincy Team. I was not there as I was reading the final draft of the reflections Document. Bible Study gathered for the final time in this format. The study provided a time for each of us to identify one task at home that we wanted the group to “commission us” to carry out and for which they would pray. It was a very moving time of prayer.
The last Indaba Group gave us time to think about trying to translate our process for others on arrival home. There is a certain amount of “you had to be there to understand”. I think that those who have been to any Christian community building program like Cursillo, Alpha, TEC, Mission program, can begin to understand the intensity with which relationships build. The work that has been done has equipped new bishops for their ministry, both with personal support networks and with practical skills. There was an air of hope as we moved into the afternoon plenary session.
There were the usual thank you’s to those who had planned and run the Conferences for bishops and spouses. Then we had ++Rowan’s closing address. I expect that the text either is already, or will be published on the Communion web site. The main disappointment for me is that he is going to call a Primates’ meeting soon. There were many criticisms of the Primates’ meeting as an instrument of unity in the written notes from the Indaba Groups and I had hoped that they would stay quiet until after the Anglican Consultative Council meeting next May. However, if their meeting can be planned to rebuild relations among them, and not turn into another bullying session, it could be helpful. Unfortunately, if they meet, some other work won’t happen because the Communion budget has very limited money.
The closing Eucharist in the Cathedral in Canterbury was much more relaxed than the opening one, and just as impressive. Bishop Ellison Pogo from the province of Melanesia celebrated and ++Rowan preached. After communion, ++Rowan read out the names of the seven Melanesian brothers killed when they tried to intervene to make peace in the Solomon Islands. Then the Melanesia Brothers and the Sisters of the Church from the Solomon Islands knelt in the center of the Cathedral and chanted their Litany for Martyrs. They rose and continued to chant the litany while they carried the list of names to the Chapel of Martyrs on the side of the Cathedral. I don’t think there was a dry eye in the place!
After the service, the Cathedral provided a great buffet dinner with wine or a Brew called Bishop’s Finger! There was a Big Band playing dance music so soon there were several purple dancers up enjoying the music!
Packing the suitcases with the many books and papers that I had collected was a challenge, since I did not want to have to pay the charges for overweight suitcases!
Morning came early enough and I loaded the suitcases down the stairs and across to the bus stop. The young Stewards who have been helping with everything were there to help with the heavy stuff. They got us onto to the coaches and off to Heathrow. The one on the coach phoned ahead as we arrived at each terminal so there were volunteers there with carts for us and helped us find our way to the Air Canada space in terminal 3. They were wonderful! However, Air Canada has not automated anything there! I did pass the weight test though and, having sent the luggage through, was free to roam the shops in the airport. Despite it being Duty Free, there were no bargains! A kind person at home had given me a pass to the Air Canada lounge, so I was able to get some breakfast and read in comfort until the flight was called.
On the plane, the flight attendant came by with newspapers. The one I picked had a front page article on the Lambeth Conference. I had a hard time recognizing where I had been from the description in that article! I traded with the person beside me and found it had a front page article with a photo of ++Rowan saying, ‘Same sex Blessings must stop!’, alongside an article on a Church England Clergyman who had just celebrated his marriage to his male gardener who wore a pink veil saying, ‘I am the Bride’! Go figure!!!
Across the aisle from me was a potential candidate for ordination in our Diocese who was coming to NS for the month of August, and who had been praying for the Conference throughout. I had spoken to her in the Check In line and she joked that she would probably end up sitting beside me!
Today I have watched the DVD that they sent home with us from Lambeth. It has lots of interviews and photos and footage of the Conference. I have given it to the Resource Room so folks can borrow it.
I have been astonished how many people from wide spread places have followed my reflections for the Diocese. To those of you who prayed, thank you. As I continue to reflect, I will from time to time post a message here again. A notice will appear on the web site whenever that happens.
+Sue
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Sunday, August 3, 2008
August 3, 2008
Sunday morning some people sleep in! I don’t know when I last did that! The Listeners were at work at 7 am reading the last version of the Reflections document. By the end of last night we were quite silly and thought “Capturing the Indaba” was a good title for it. We have a cartoonist in residence and we thought he would have fun with it! There was a big sigh of relief when we gave it to the photocopy folks for reproduction.
There was Morning Prayer this morning with the Chaplains group but I missed it reading the final draft of the Reflections document.
Bible study was focused on John 20:19-31. One of the questions was “What does being sent mean in your setting?” One bishop told us that being sent meant the bishop had chosen you so you would be pleased that the bishop thinks you are a good person to do the job. It also means that you might die because you go. “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” Jesus was sent and died. If the prospect of death accompanying priesthood were a reality in our Diocese, how many people would offer for ordination? The end of Bible Study was ‘commissioning’ those in our group who wished it for work back in their Diocese.
After the morning coffee/tea break, we moved on to our last Indaba group. There has been an ongoing joke about how to pronounce Indaba. It is actually In DAH ba, but some have been using something like In da Bar! Some were apparently in da bar last evening so they were AWOL this morning. We spent some time doing the inevitable evaluation form. We considered what had surprised us about the conference. We had another go round for those who wanted resolutions and now don’t have any to take home. We talked about what we are taking home with us. You will hear more about this when I am home.
There has been a clear change of atmosphere from fear to hope. People spoke of their fear when they arrived and their hope as they prepare to return home. As one said, “++Rowan has a brilliant mind and he chose to have us use a process that is not intellectual but builds relationships.” Another said, “When we meet together we begin to know each other. As we get to know each other better, we become even more open in our disagreements because we are able to, in a solid relationship. We become frustrated when we do not have the time to work things through because we care about each other.”
After the many Thank you’s to the folks who kept things running, we had ++Rowan’s closing address. It was beautifully crafted. The only news that nearly caused a groan aloud was that he is going to call a Primates’ meeting in the fall. Having read 16 sets of notes about the “Instruments of Communion”, I know that there is little support for the Primates’ as currently structured. However, there were people who said this Lambeth wouldn’t work either and it has worked very well, so as the Holy Spirit is at work here, maybe it will also bring life to the primates’ meeting.
The closing liturgy was less formal and quite lovely in the Cathedral in Canterbury. As we were boarding the coaches to get there, another group of youth pilgrims were arriving. Someone should consider how a group from our Diocese could do the pilgrimage at Canterbury. I would be happy to chaperone! The Cathedral provided dinner after the liturgy. Unfortunately it began to rain so we couldn’t eat out doors in the Cathedral grounds, so we walked around and around to a huge hall that easily held 600 people. There was a band playing big band dance music so some of the folks took up dancing – it was a purple dance floor!
So now I am packing things up to return home. Would you believe that I have books?
See you soon.
+Sue
There was Morning Prayer this morning with the Chaplains group but I missed it reading the final draft of the Reflections document.
Bible study was focused on John 20:19-31. One of the questions was “What does being sent mean in your setting?” One bishop told us that being sent meant the bishop had chosen you so you would be pleased that the bishop thinks you are a good person to do the job. It also means that you might die because you go. “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” Jesus was sent and died. If the prospect of death accompanying priesthood were a reality in our Diocese, how many people would offer for ordination? The end of Bible Study was ‘commissioning’ those in our group who wished it for work back in their Diocese.
After the morning coffee/tea break, we moved on to our last Indaba group. There has been an ongoing joke about how to pronounce Indaba. It is actually In DAH ba, but some have been using something like In da Bar! Some were apparently in da bar last evening so they were AWOL this morning. We spent some time doing the inevitable evaluation form. We considered what had surprised us about the conference. We had another go round for those who wanted resolutions and now don’t have any to take home. We talked about what we are taking home with us. You will hear more about this when I am home.
There has been a clear change of atmosphere from fear to hope. People spoke of their fear when they arrived and their hope as they prepare to return home. As one said, “++Rowan has a brilliant mind and he chose to have us use a process that is not intellectual but builds relationships.” Another said, “When we meet together we begin to know each other. As we get to know each other better, we become even more open in our disagreements because we are able to, in a solid relationship. We become frustrated when we do not have the time to work things through because we care about each other.”
After the many Thank you’s to the folks who kept things running, we had ++Rowan’s closing address. It was beautifully crafted. The only news that nearly caused a groan aloud was that he is going to call a Primates’ meeting in the fall. Having read 16 sets of notes about the “Instruments of Communion”, I know that there is little support for the Primates’ as currently structured. However, there were people who said this Lambeth wouldn’t work either and it has worked very well, so as the Holy Spirit is at work here, maybe it will also bring life to the primates’ meeting.
The closing liturgy was less formal and quite lovely in the Cathedral in Canterbury. As we were boarding the coaches to get there, another group of youth pilgrims were arriving. Someone should consider how a group from our Diocese could do the pilgrimage at Canterbury. I would be happy to chaperone! The Cathedral provided dinner after the liturgy. Unfortunately it began to rain so we couldn’t eat out doors in the Cathedral grounds, so we walked around and around to a huge hall that easily held 600 people. There was a band playing big band dance music so some of the folks took up dancing – it was a purple dance floor!
So now I am packing things up to return home. Would you believe that I have books?
See you soon.
+Sue
AUgust 2, 2008
The Listeners started early this morning, but we were sharp with our computers and soon had the document ready to go to press for the first Hearing. The Eucharist at 7:15am was excellent. It was led by the Church of Kenya with their liturgy with has some wonderful symbolic actions and the following opening to the Eucharistic Prayer.
“Is the Father with us? He is!
Is Christ among us? He is!
Is the Spirit here? The Spirit is here!
This is our God. Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
We are God’s people. We are redeemed.
Lift up your hearts……..”
You will probably see the rest at some point in a service when I get home.
The Bible Study focus was John 18:1-18, “For whom are you looking? I am…I am…I am…” One question was “What does it mean for you that the last ‘I am’ is spoken in this scene?” We heard stories of priests quietly and with self control stepping forward to say ‘I am the pastor’ as they were arrested, knowing they were going to their death, but believing that the Christ walked beside them. Arrest and torture for priests as the known leader in the village, unheard of in our country, is a fact of life for some of our brothers and sisters in Christ. Please remember them in your prayers and remember that the Risen Christ also walks with you in the trials of your life. The second question was “What might the kind of leadership that Jesus shows in the garden mean for your own ministry?” There was an analysis of the 1998 Lambeth conference by a bishop who was there, as people fighting over Jesus who is calmly standing in the middle saying, “I am” and waiting for His voice to be heard. That spirit of fighting is not in this meeting and it seems that many times we have heard the voice of God in the voices of our fellow bishops and their stories. It will be difficult to leave this group behind tomorrow when we have our last session.
The Indaba Group continued on with the discussion of the Covenant and the Continuation Group’s proposals. There is a request from them that there be a moratorium on ordinations of bishops in same gendered partnership, the blessings of same sex unions and cross Provincial interventions by uninvited bishops. The big issue is ordination. I have learned a lot about the perceptions around the world of what happened in New Hampshire. There is clearly a different standard of behaviour expected of clergy and bishops in particular. I have learned that in the eyes of most of our Anglican brothers and sisters, homosexual activity is clearly understood as sin. So it makes no sense to them that a ‘sinful’ person could be ordained to be a leader whose life is supposed to model that of Jesus. I have learned that their treatment of polygamy is to call it a sin, and to bar those, who for reasons of continuing to care for their wives (who would be destitute if they were divorced), have continued in polygamy, from being church layleaders or clergy and in some places they can not receive communion. They do not understand why we do not do the same.
The Listeners met and wrote beginning with lunch in order to have the next version of the Reflections document for the hearing at 5 pm. This is a different Lambeth from the past, where resolutions were passed, highly polished texts (prepared ahead of time and voted on, were taken home as “Law”. The anxiety about having a Reflections document to take home with them is beginning to come out especially among a small group. The Hearing was quite lively and I remembered the analysis from the Bible Study as I listened. I am very glad that this Lambeth was not using resolutions!
The Church of Ireland led Evening Worship with their wonderful rolling “r’s”! We had a break for supper and I actually caught up with some of the Canadian bishops. I had a glimpse of our Suffragan Bishop across the campus as I returned to the Listening Group.
We have finished as much as we can of our Reflection document.
Tomorrow we will hear from ++Rowan once more and begin to pack our bags for home.
Have wonderful Sunday services. I am looking forward to celebrating in Canadian when I get home! +Sue
“Is the Father with us? He is!
Is Christ among us? He is!
Is the Spirit here? The Spirit is here!
This is our God. Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
We are God’s people. We are redeemed.
Lift up your hearts……..”
You will probably see the rest at some point in a service when I get home.
The Bible Study focus was John 18:1-18, “For whom are you looking? I am…I am…I am…” One question was “What does it mean for you that the last ‘I am’ is spoken in this scene?” We heard stories of priests quietly and with self control stepping forward to say ‘I am the pastor’ as they were arrested, knowing they were going to their death, but believing that the Christ walked beside them. Arrest and torture for priests as the known leader in the village, unheard of in our country, is a fact of life for some of our brothers and sisters in Christ. Please remember them in your prayers and remember that the Risen Christ also walks with you in the trials of your life. The second question was “What might the kind of leadership that Jesus shows in the garden mean for your own ministry?” There was an analysis of the 1998 Lambeth conference by a bishop who was there, as people fighting over Jesus who is calmly standing in the middle saying, “I am” and waiting for His voice to be heard. That spirit of fighting is not in this meeting and it seems that many times we have heard the voice of God in the voices of our fellow bishops and their stories. It will be difficult to leave this group behind tomorrow when we have our last session.
The Indaba Group continued on with the discussion of the Covenant and the Continuation Group’s proposals. There is a request from them that there be a moratorium on ordinations of bishops in same gendered partnership, the blessings of same sex unions and cross Provincial interventions by uninvited bishops. The big issue is ordination. I have learned a lot about the perceptions around the world of what happened in New Hampshire. There is clearly a different standard of behaviour expected of clergy and bishops in particular. I have learned that in the eyes of most of our Anglican brothers and sisters, homosexual activity is clearly understood as sin. So it makes no sense to them that a ‘sinful’ person could be ordained to be a leader whose life is supposed to model that of Jesus. I have learned that their treatment of polygamy is to call it a sin, and to bar those, who for reasons of continuing to care for their wives (who would be destitute if they were divorced), have continued in polygamy, from being church layleaders or clergy and in some places they can not receive communion. They do not understand why we do not do the same.
The Listeners met and wrote beginning with lunch in order to have the next version of the Reflections document for the hearing at 5 pm. This is a different Lambeth from the past, where resolutions were passed, highly polished texts (prepared ahead of time and voted on, were taken home as “Law”. The anxiety about having a Reflections document to take home with them is beginning to come out especially among a small group. The Hearing was quite lively and I remembered the analysis from the Bible Study as I listened. I am very glad that this Lambeth was not using resolutions!
The Church of Ireland led Evening Worship with their wonderful rolling “r’s”! We had a break for supper and I actually caught up with some of the Canadian bishops. I had a glimpse of our Suffragan Bishop across the campus as I returned to the Listening Group.
We have finished as much as we can of our Reflection document.
Tomorrow we will hear from ++Rowan once more and begin to pack our bags for home.
Have wonderful Sunday services. I am looking forward to celebrating in Canadian when I get home! +Sue
Saturday, August 2, 2008
August 1, 2008
The Eucharist this morning was led by the Church in Pakistan. Part of the gathering time, we see a DVD of life in the church for those who are leading. Pakistan is a beautiful land with beautiful people and they live with daily threats. Next time you are tempted to just stay home from worship for a trivial reason, think of those who persevere in going out to worship in the face of daily persecution.
The Bible Study was John 15:1-17. We started by asking how the passage is translated in other languages. We learned there are no grape vines in Myanmar, but they have mango trees. In Congo, they have banana trees. We are of course reading the Scriptures in the context of this meeting, so we tried to imagine the Anglican Communion as a bunch of grapes! There was a terrible pun about whining in the Communion. We spent some time with verse 11. In what ways does Jesus make our joy complete? Do we let people know about that joy?
The Indaba group focused on the “The Bishop, the Anglican Covenant, and the Windsor Process”. There are two important groups at work that many people seem to have been unaware of – the Covenant Design Group and the Windsor Continuation Group. The Covenant Group has written a proposed covenant (which you can find on the Anglican Communion web site under St. Andrew’s Draft of the Covenant). In it, they make some proposals about our life as a Communion rather than a loose federation of churches. What is outlined in the opening part seems to have a level of support from the Bishops. The third part and the Appendix have very little support. This became clear as our Listening Group read through the various Indaba group reports. We will find out more on Saturday when we feed this back to the Plenary Session. The Windsor Continuation Group has been developing plans for the time between now and the Covenant coming into effect. (There is a HUGE assumption that it will do so!) Part of this is a moratorium on three things: the ordination of any more active gay/lesbian bishops, the blessings of same sex relationships, uninvited cross border invasions by outside bishops. It seems that his moratorium is proposed to last until the covenant comes into effect. There is uneven support for this idea. I will know more tomorrow when we see the Indaba group reports.
There are many concerns about all of these proposals. More concerning to me is the lack of accurate information about our church. I seem to be repeating myself explaining that we currently have a moratorium on these from our end, but we are still visited by unwelcome primates. (It makes for some carefully chosen words in my Indaba group, since one of the “Invaders” is in my group!)
The afternoon session was the next hearing of our reflections. Most people can identify with the comments in our reports. There some bishops who are clearly used to having the last word and seem quite annoyed when we say, “But that was not the opinion of the Indaba groups.” This process is quite difficult for those who want parliamentary procedure and debates on resolutions. Most of the Bishops are very much enjoying this time for listening and sharing concerns. Late in the afternoon we had an extra Indaba Group to allow more time for processing the ideas of the Covenant.
Evening worship was led by the Churches of South East Asia. They had wonderful photos of some of their congregations gathered for Baptism in the nearest rivers. They have a serious strategy for making disciples, bringing adults, youth and children to Christ.
The other Canadians went off to party tonight. The Listening Group got quite silly after 10pm so we quit!
(I think I was so tired I didn’t realize until today that I wrote this and didn’t post it! Sorry!)
The Bible Study was John 15:1-17. We started by asking how the passage is translated in other languages. We learned there are no grape vines in Myanmar, but they have mango trees. In Congo, they have banana trees. We are of course reading the Scriptures in the context of this meeting, so we tried to imagine the Anglican Communion as a bunch of grapes! There was a terrible pun about whining in the Communion. We spent some time with verse 11. In what ways does Jesus make our joy complete? Do we let people know about that joy?
The Indaba group focused on the “The Bishop, the Anglican Covenant, and the Windsor Process”. There are two important groups at work that many people seem to have been unaware of – the Covenant Design Group and the Windsor Continuation Group. The Covenant Group has written a proposed covenant (which you can find on the Anglican Communion web site under St. Andrew’s Draft of the Covenant). In it, they make some proposals about our life as a Communion rather than a loose federation of churches. What is outlined in the opening part seems to have a level of support from the Bishops. The third part and the Appendix have very little support. This became clear as our Listening Group read through the various Indaba group reports. We will find out more on Saturday when we feed this back to the Plenary Session. The Windsor Continuation Group has been developing plans for the time between now and the Covenant coming into effect. (There is a HUGE assumption that it will do so!) Part of this is a moratorium on three things: the ordination of any more active gay/lesbian bishops, the blessings of same sex relationships, uninvited cross border invasions by outside bishops. It seems that his moratorium is proposed to last until the covenant comes into effect. There is uneven support for this idea. I will know more tomorrow when we see the Indaba group reports.
There are many concerns about all of these proposals. More concerning to me is the lack of accurate information about our church. I seem to be repeating myself explaining that we currently have a moratorium on these from our end, but we are still visited by unwelcome primates. (It makes for some carefully chosen words in my Indaba group, since one of the “Invaders” is in my group!)
The afternoon session was the next hearing of our reflections. Most people can identify with the comments in our reports. There some bishops who are clearly used to having the last word and seem quite annoyed when we say, “But that was not the opinion of the Indaba groups.” This process is quite difficult for those who want parliamentary procedure and debates on resolutions. Most of the Bishops are very much enjoying this time for listening and sharing concerns. Late in the afternoon we had an extra Indaba Group to allow more time for processing the ideas of the Covenant.
Evening worship was led by the Churches of South East Asia. They had wonderful photos of some of their congregations gathered for Baptism in the nearest rivers. They have a serious strategy for making disciples, bringing adults, youth and children to Christ.
The other Canadians went off to party tonight. The Listening Group got quite silly after 10pm so we quit!
(I think I was so tired I didn’t realize until today that I wrote this and didn’t post it! Sorry!)
Thursday, July 31, 2008
July 31, 2008
Listening to God and to Each Other: The Bishop and Human Sexuality
It has been a long day!!! Some of the Listeners began at 6am to prepare the documents for today!
The Eucharist was led by the Province of Burundi – some English, some French, and a native language which I could not determine. How great Thou Art in 3 languages at the same time was great, as was Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah!
Bible Study was John 13:31-14:17. We very dutifully did the first question, “How has John’s radical paradox, that God’s glory is most visible at moments of apparent weakness and vulnerability, been part of your church’s story?” There were some profound examples. However the Indaba coming up would be “The Bishop and Human Sexuality”. We agreed that it would be easier to speak among ourselves about our views than in the bigger group of 40 people. As you might expect, among the nine of us there was the usual range of views on sexuality, but there was no bitterness or any accusations. There was agreement that spreading of misinformation had caused damage to the Communion. Campaigns on behalf of one party or another were not appreciated by anyone and mainly create backlash. (There is a constant barrage of information on Gay and Lesbian people here including a demonstration as we exited from the hearing on the Scripture.)
The Indaba Group was also very honest. The biggest concern is about the ordination of actively homosexual people, with the blessings of same sex couples a long way behind. It is clear that sexual sins (which were listed by many to include divorce, promiscuity, adultery, same sex unions) are far more important to people than any other sins (like violence within family, greed, unethical business practice). In many places, a divorced person can not be ordained or be a catechist. Those in polygamous relationships can not receive communion. The punishment for sexual deviation is severe in many places in our Communion. Many people feel that the ordination of a gay bishop been has forced on them and has created the great rift in the Communion. The Episcopal Church has been almost silent in response so far.
The second Hearing on the Conference Reflections that the Listeners are creating was this afternoon. Although we thought it might be acrimonious, it went very well. The Indaba focus about an Anglican interpretation of Scripture produced some very harmonious results for us to report. For your consideration, these are some of the points included:
- The Cranmer Collect that includes “…hear, read, mark, learn and inwardly digest…”
- The Canon of Scripture is upheld by us. It is our way of ‘testing’ novelties.
- The Scriptures contain all things necessary to salvation. (Who would have guessed?)
- Jesus Christ is the Word of God.
- The Bible was and is the standard way for Christians to be in and on the Way of God in Jesus Christ.
- We affirm different models of interpreting Scripture within our tradition.
- And several others…Further developments of the text are happening tonight for review tomorrow.
- There were conflicting comments on the purpose of the report, so we had the opportunity to meet with Archbishop Rowan late this afternoon. He is making himself very available to listen to people and to interact with them. As a result we missed Evening Prayer by the Province of New Zealand, Aotearoa and Polynesia.
There were some receptions this evening, but I opted to stay home and read!
It has been a long day!!! Some of the Listeners began at 6am to prepare the documents for today!
The Eucharist was led by the Province of Burundi – some English, some French, and a native language which I could not determine. How great Thou Art in 3 languages at the same time was great, as was Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah!
Bible Study was John 13:31-14:17. We very dutifully did the first question, “How has John’s radical paradox, that God’s glory is most visible at moments of apparent weakness and vulnerability, been part of your church’s story?” There were some profound examples. However the Indaba coming up would be “The Bishop and Human Sexuality”. We agreed that it would be easier to speak among ourselves about our views than in the bigger group of 40 people. As you might expect, among the nine of us there was the usual range of views on sexuality, but there was no bitterness or any accusations. There was agreement that spreading of misinformation had caused damage to the Communion. Campaigns on behalf of one party or another were not appreciated by anyone and mainly create backlash. (There is a constant barrage of information on Gay and Lesbian people here including a demonstration as we exited from the hearing on the Scripture.)
The Indaba Group was also very honest. The biggest concern is about the ordination of actively homosexual people, with the blessings of same sex couples a long way behind. It is clear that sexual sins (which were listed by many to include divorce, promiscuity, adultery, same sex unions) are far more important to people than any other sins (like violence within family, greed, unethical business practice). In many places, a divorced person can not be ordained or be a catechist. Those in polygamous relationships can not receive communion. The punishment for sexual deviation is severe in many places in our Communion. Many people feel that the ordination of a gay bishop been has forced on them and has created the great rift in the Communion. The Episcopal Church has been almost silent in response so far.
The second Hearing on the Conference Reflections that the Listeners are creating was this afternoon. Although we thought it might be acrimonious, it went very well. The Indaba focus about an Anglican interpretation of Scripture produced some very harmonious results for us to report. For your consideration, these are some of the points included:
- The Cranmer Collect that includes “…hear, read, mark, learn and inwardly digest…”
- The Canon of Scripture is upheld by us. It is our way of ‘testing’ novelties.
- The Scriptures contain all things necessary to salvation. (Who would have guessed?)
- Jesus Christ is the Word of God.
- The Bible was and is the standard way for Christians to be in and on the Way of God in Jesus Christ.
- We affirm different models of interpreting Scripture within our tradition.
- And several others…Further developments of the text are happening tonight for review tomorrow.
- There were conflicting comments on the purpose of the report, so we had the opportunity to meet with Archbishop Rowan late this afternoon. He is making himself very available to listen to people and to interact with them. As a result we missed Evening Prayer by the Province of New Zealand, Aotearoa and Polynesia.
There were some receptions this evening, but I opted to stay home and read!
July 30, 2008
The Eucharist this morning was lead by the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui with beautiful simplicity and a dramatic reading of the Gospel in Japanese. The Bible Study focus was John 11:1-44. We had been asked to write a 300 word interpretation of the text for this morning’s session which we would share with the group. Then the question was “In what ways are these Anglican interpretations?” In the Indaba groups we considered further these possible principles and there was remarkable agreement. After the Listeners put the list together, I will post them for your consideration.
The Listeners made our first presentation this afternoon to a full house. There was a general acceptance of the work with helpful additions suggested. Then we went off to continue our work. Unfortunately the technology was slow so the morning’s work by the groups was not yet available, so we had the evening free. I went then to the group of Anglican Schools in which King’s University is included. Fortunately I am having an early evening as the Listeners must start at 7am tomorrow to have the work ready for the next presentation in the afternoon.
Blessings.
+Sue
The Listeners made our first presentation this afternoon to a full house. There was a general acceptance of the work with helpful additions suggested. Then we went off to continue our work. Unfortunately the technology was slow so the morning’s work by the groups was not yet available, so we had the evening free. I went then to the group of Anglican Schools in which King’s University is included. Fortunately I am having an early evening as the Listeners must start at 7am tomorrow to have the work ready for the next presentation in the afternoon.
Blessings.
+Sue
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
JUly 29, 2008
Safeguarding Creation – The Bishop and the Environment
The fifth mark of mission is: “To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and renew the life of the earth.” So far this is the mark of mission least universally owned by the churches of the communion. Ignorance of the issues is a priority that must be addressed around the Communion. Stories shared from bishops around the Communion give a picture of a global crisis. There are many examples including water pollution, dumping of toxic waste, air pollution, deforestation, irresponsible disposal of garbage. It is clear that the personal level exchange of issues being faced (with first hand knowledge) has a greater impact on us than Western media reports. Environment is the top priority for some provinces and must be a high priority for all of us. In the Global South, safeguarding creation is a day to day activity, not an intellectual exercise. The Communion Bishops could take a leading role through example, such as a carbon offset target for meeting travel.
While many agencies can engage with environmental issues, the church must do so from the starting point of Scripture and a credible theology. One particularly difficult Scripture reference has been Genesis 1:28 where the words ‘have dominion over’ or ‘subdue’ have been misinterpreted as ‘Do whatever you want with the earth.’ If humanity is made in the image of God, who saw that creation was good, then humanity needs to learn to care for God’s creation. Theologies of creation, Sabbath, stewardship and “enough” need to be developed for general use. Creation did not fall, humanity did, and this has led to the destruction of creation. Some of the symptoms of this human sin include selfishness, greed, consumerism and overindulgence. The destruction of the environment is a spiritual issue and the church can suggest taking actions in terms of spiritual disciplines, including repentance of ingrained habits that are ecologically irresponsible.
Many examples of destruction focused on water. Water is central to baptism, the sacrament of new life. This is a reminder that we have a responsibility for those yet to be born to ensure conditions for their potential life and flourishing. The Communion, Provinces and Dioceses could focus on one major campaign - the human right to water.
There is only one instrument for sustaining God’s creation – humanity. To get people moving requires moral leadership and this is the role of the church together with other aware bodies, e.g. the United Nations. The Anglican churches must engage with other agencies with sound knowledge and experience to impact church members, various levels of government and the business communities.
What can the church do?
Education: Engage with scientists to have accurate and credible information. Scriptural and theological education should be available for seminary students to produce knowledgeable clergy and lay leaders to engage congregations. We need educational materials to encourage children and youth to engage with programs for change. Adult education materials for parishioners would be helpful. Every Anglican must understand that it is their personal responsibility to live a rule of life that sustains and restores God’s creation. A primary task for bishops is to raise the consciousness of church members as well as the public. The Communion/Province should position itself to be a symbol for ecological commitment to sustaining and renewing God’s creation. Dioceses and parishes provide opportunities for learning and action. People respond well to specific, simple actions, e.g. plant one tree each year, use no plastic in the churches, walk whenever you can instead of using a car. Bishops can also have specific actions, e.g. plant a tree on each parish visit, focus sermons for one season on the Environment. “Green Awards” are also incentives to dioceses and parishes to decrease the damage they do to creation and improve the ways they contribute to renewing the earth.
Liturgy/Worship: The Communion and/or Diocesan worship committees can develop worship resources on creation and environmental themes, and use the liturgical seasons for environmental awareness, e.g. planting time and harvest thanksgiving, the memorial of St. Francis, a Lenten fast from energy consumption.
Empowerment for Action: Think globally, act locally and globally. Work ecumenically and with other faith groups to lobby governments for laws and implementation of international agreements, e.g. Kyoto. The bishops could also have a reconciling role for brokering conversations between business, government and environmentalists. We must be aware of the political and economic aspects of caring for creation. Ecology and economics are connected. The desire for economic development can start a vicious cycle of damage to the environment. Damage to the environment creates conditions that impact developing nations and those living in poverty (women and children) first. Economic improvements for one group may bring environmental disaster to another. Bishops need to learn how to exert pressure on governments in regard to environmental issues and this means they have to be correctly informed and have credibility with governments.
Additional thoughts:
Environmental destruction is connected to internal displacement of people and to migration. Sometimes the creation is deliberately destroyed by companies seeking access to resources such as oil, and the local people are driven away. Sometimes, when the land is devastated by natural disaster, the people migrate seeking safety and a livelihood.
Considered use of technology: Just because we can do it, doesn’t mean we should.
Care of God’s creation should take prominent place in any Covenant for the Communion.
The Anglican Environmental network could be a better resource to the provinces of the Communion.
Green Conference: The next Lambeth Conference should be a green conference where the host institution under clear direction from the Design Group, providing recycling facilities. The Design Group could still direct the host institution to provide more recycling facilities, publicize existing facilities and greatly reduce the use of disposable cups and paper towels by providing alternatives.
One group discussed environment and human sexuality.
Another group discussed responses to the Windsor Report and interprovincial relationships.
Another group discussed the covenant.
The fifth mark of mission is: “To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and renew the life of the earth.” So far this is the mark of mission least universally owned by the churches of the communion. Ignorance of the issues is a priority that must be addressed around the Communion. Stories shared from bishops around the Communion give a picture of a global crisis. There are many examples including water pollution, dumping of toxic waste, air pollution, deforestation, irresponsible disposal of garbage. It is clear that the personal level exchange of issues being faced (with first hand knowledge) has a greater impact on us than Western media reports. Environment is the top priority for some provinces and must be a high priority for all of us. In the Global South, safeguarding creation is a day to day activity, not an intellectual exercise. The Communion Bishops could take a leading role through example, such as a carbon offset target for meeting travel.
While many agencies can engage with environmental issues, the church must do so from the starting point of Scripture and a credible theology. One particularly difficult Scripture reference has been Genesis 1:28 where the words ‘have dominion over’ or ‘subdue’ have been misinterpreted as ‘Do whatever you want with the earth.’ If humanity is made in the image of God, who saw that creation was good, then humanity needs to learn to care for God’s creation. Theologies of creation, Sabbath, stewardship and “enough” need to be developed for general use. Creation did not fall, humanity did, and this has led to the destruction of creation. Some of the symptoms of this human sin include selfishness, greed, consumerism and overindulgence. The destruction of the environment is a spiritual issue and the church can suggest taking actions in terms of spiritual disciplines, including repentance of ingrained habits that are ecologically irresponsible.
Many examples of destruction focused on water. Water is central to baptism, the sacrament of new life. This is a reminder that we have a responsibility for those yet to be born to ensure conditions for their potential life and flourishing. The Communion, Provinces and Dioceses could focus on one major campaign - the human right to water.
There is only one instrument for sustaining God’s creation – humanity. To get people moving requires moral leadership and this is the role of the church together with other aware bodies, e.g. the United Nations. The Anglican churches must engage with other agencies with sound knowledge and experience to impact church members, various levels of government and the business communities.
What can the church do?
Education: Engage with scientists to have accurate and credible information. Scriptural and theological education should be available for seminary students to produce knowledgeable clergy and lay leaders to engage congregations. We need educational materials to encourage children and youth to engage with programs for change. Adult education materials for parishioners would be helpful. Every Anglican must understand that it is their personal responsibility to live a rule of life that sustains and restores God’s creation. A primary task for bishops is to raise the consciousness of church members as well as the public. The Communion/Province should position itself to be a symbol for ecological commitment to sustaining and renewing God’s creation. Dioceses and parishes provide opportunities for learning and action. People respond well to specific, simple actions, e.g. plant one tree each year, use no plastic in the churches, walk whenever you can instead of using a car. Bishops can also have specific actions, e.g. plant a tree on each parish visit, focus sermons for one season on the Environment. “Green Awards” are also incentives to dioceses and parishes to decrease the damage they do to creation and improve the ways they contribute to renewing the earth.
Liturgy/Worship: The Communion and/or Diocesan worship committees can develop worship resources on creation and environmental themes, and use the liturgical seasons for environmental awareness, e.g. planting time and harvest thanksgiving, the memorial of St. Francis, a Lenten fast from energy consumption.
Empowerment for Action: Think globally, act locally and globally. Work ecumenically and with other faith groups to lobby governments for laws and implementation of international agreements, e.g. Kyoto. The bishops could also have a reconciling role for brokering conversations between business, government and environmentalists. We must be aware of the political and economic aspects of caring for creation. Ecology and economics are connected. The desire for economic development can start a vicious cycle of damage to the environment. Damage to the environment creates conditions that impact developing nations and those living in poverty (women and children) first. Economic improvements for one group may bring environmental disaster to another. Bishops need to learn how to exert pressure on governments in regard to environmental issues and this means they have to be correctly informed and have credibility with governments.
Additional thoughts:
Environmental destruction is connected to internal displacement of people and to migration. Sometimes the creation is deliberately destroyed by companies seeking access to resources such as oil, and the local people are driven away. Sometimes, when the land is devastated by natural disaster, the people migrate seeking safety and a livelihood.
Considered use of technology: Just because we can do it, doesn’t mean we should.
Care of God’s creation should take prominent place in any Covenant for the Communion.
The Anglican Environmental network could be a better resource to the provinces of the Communion.
Green Conference: The next Lambeth Conference should be a green conference where the host institution under clear direction from the Design Group, providing recycling facilities. The Design Group could still direct the host institution to provide more recycling facilities, publicize existing facilities and greatly reduce the use of disposable cups and paper towels by providing alternatives.
One group discussed environment and human sexuality.
Another group discussed responses to the Windsor Report and interprovincial relationships.
Another group discussed the covenant.
Monday, July 28, 2008
July 28, 2008
The sun continues to shine and the local folks are amazed. Sun is not their usual weather!
The Eucharist was led by the Province of the Indian Ocean this morning so parts were in French, Creole, Malagasy and English. They invited Barry Clarke the Bishop of Montreal to join them as they have a Companion link. The wife of one of the bishops is a priest so she joined them for the celebration.
Bible Study today was on John 10:1-10. We talked about what this passage means to each of us. Gates have very different roles – keep animals or people in, or out; with a gate keeper or not; to provide security for those inside or those outside. One of the questions was, “What does it mean for us to think of Jesus as the gate the both invites the world into the church and urges the sheep to follow Jesus trustingly into the world?” There was a story from the Middle East about traveling on a narrow pathway when two shepherds with flocks of sheep met. As they approached each other, the shepherds began talking and singing and whistling, and kept it up while the sheep passed by each other and the shepherds went on their way without losing any sheep. Do you know the voice of your Shepherd?
The Indaba group focused on Engaging in a Multi-faith World: the Bishop, Christian witness and other faiths. There were stories from many parts of the world where Christians are a minority and what they do to build relations with the majority religion. There stories from places, like ours, where the various religions are developing working relationships. Anglicans in minority situations rely heavily on the Communion for strength and a voice with governments. The question was raised, “What is the purpose of Interfaith Dialogue?”
The afternoon session was a Hearing on the Windsor Continuation Group proposals. We were handed the material as we entered the room which miffed several bishops as there was no time to think before being asked to speak. Most of the time was used up by TEC bishops arguing with each other. Others are not taking the initiative to speak. ++Fred asked for time to present the story of what ahs happened in the Canadian Church as there are major misunderstandings about what the situation is in Canada. The UK Bishops are being very quiet and nobody is raising the siutation here where civil same sex partnerships are permitted for C of E clergy!
At lunch, the Listeners met to get our next assignment. My group of three received the environment indaba reports to summarize and we completed that over supper. I missed evening worship because I was typing our report. The local WATCH group (Women and the Church) hosted a lovely supper reception at the home of the Archdeacon of Canterbury, Sheila Watson. We could not stay too long as Rabbi Jonathan Sacks was speaking this evening at 8pm on The Relationship between the People and God: the Covenant. This was a lead in to our discussions about Covenant.
After that the Listeners met again to go over the material that had been prepared. We have to be ready for a Hearing on our material by Wednesday. Off to bed for me!
+Sue
The Eucharist was led by the Province of the Indian Ocean this morning so parts were in French, Creole, Malagasy and English. They invited Barry Clarke the Bishop of Montreal to join them as they have a Companion link. The wife of one of the bishops is a priest so she joined them for the celebration.
Bible Study today was on John 10:1-10. We talked about what this passage means to each of us. Gates have very different roles – keep animals or people in, or out; with a gate keeper or not; to provide security for those inside or those outside. One of the questions was, “What does it mean for us to think of Jesus as the gate the both invites the world into the church and urges the sheep to follow Jesus trustingly into the world?” There was a story from the Middle East about traveling on a narrow pathway when two shepherds with flocks of sheep met. As they approached each other, the shepherds began talking and singing and whistling, and kept it up while the sheep passed by each other and the shepherds went on their way without losing any sheep. Do you know the voice of your Shepherd?
The Indaba group focused on Engaging in a Multi-faith World: the Bishop, Christian witness and other faiths. There were stories from many parts of the world where Christians are a minority and what they do to build relations with the majority religion. There stories from places, like ours, where the various religions are developing working relationships. Anglicans in minority situations rely heavily on the Communion for strength and a voice with governments. The question was raised, “What is the purpose of Interfaith Dialogue?”
The afternoon session was a Hearing on the Windsor Continuation Group proposals. We were handed the material as we entered the room which miffed several bishops as there was no time to think before being asked to speak. Most of the time was used up by TEC bishops arguing with each other. Others are not taking the initiative to speak. ++Fred asked for time to present the story of what ahs happened in the Canadian Church as there are major misunderstandings about what the situation is in Canada. The UK Bishops are being very quiet and nobody is raising the siutation here where civil same sex partnerships are permitted for C of E clergy!
At lunch, the Listeners met to get our next assignment. My group of three received the environment indaba reports to summarize and we completed that over supper. I missed evening worship because I was typing our report. The local WATCH group (Women and the Church) hosted a lovely supper reception at the home of the Archdeacon of Canterbury, Sheila Watson. We could not stay too long as Rabbi Jonathan Sacks was speaking this evening at 8pm on The Relationship between the People and God: the Covenant. This was a lead in to our discussions about Covenant.
After that the Listeners met again to go over the material that had been prepared. We have to be ready for a Hearing on our material by Wednesday. Off to bed for me!
+Sue
Sunday, July 27, 2008
July 27, 2008
I was up at 6:30 am and off for my morning walk/jog. It was another lovely sunny, but not too hot, day. I ate my breakfast in my little kitchen this morning and packed up my vestments and sermon to meet my drivers, John and Janet Paul at 9am. They drove me to Dover by a route that took me to a National Heritage Site called White Cliffs so I could see the White Cliffs of Dover! It turns out they have been reading my blog and knew I wanted to see them! The cliffs are chalk white and as the sun was shining on them, they were very white. I was told however, that there are no blue birds in England, so that song about the blue birds over the white cliffs of Dover is not quite accurate! Dover has a big resemblance to Halifax. There is a big container pier, about 130 cruise ships that come over the summer months, ferries coming and going across to Calais, a waterfront that is being developed, parts of the city that seriously need development and some wonderful historic buildings. They have an ancient castle from Roman times in very good condition – we can’t compete with that!
I was preaching at St. Mary the Virgin this morning. Parts of the church are Norman, as evidenced by the arches, and other parts have been added or altered over the centuries. It was Civic Service Sunday so all the members of the local governments were in attendance. There were photos taken and promises of email copies, so when they arrive I will forward them. The councillors' historic garb was just as elaborate as my vestments, but I didn’t have the wig! I had a super barbecue lunch with some of the parishioners and then went off with the Vicar, David Ridley, to do a baptism. It was very different from home. We returned to our hosts for pudding (dessert) and tea. David drove me back to Canterbury in time to arrive at St. Augustine’s Abbey where we had time and a guide to tour the ruins of the Abbey, started by Augustine on his arrival in England. Large parts of it are gone of course since Henry VIII had them destroyed, but parts were rebuilt, and it now houses a school. It was amazing to me to see names from my church history course on markers of former tombs. The Lord Mayor of Canterbury, who was sponsoring the gathering, spoke to us briefly. She took time to tease Archbishop Rowan about this being the burial place of archbishops of Canterbury. He responded in good humour. After drinks and snacks, the coaches returned us to the University for dinner.
The Listeners met at 9pm for the first round of writing. My material was not yet available so our group will have to work tomorrow on the responses to the Bishop and the Environment. However, a draft version of the first part of the report has come together. We try it out on the Indaba groups tomorrow for feedback before our discussion of the Bishops and other faiths.
I was preaching at St. Mary the Virgin this morning. Parts of the church are Norman, as evidenced by the arches, and other parts have been added or altered over the centuries. It was Civic Service Sunday so all the members of the local governments were in attendance. There were photos taken and promises of email copies, so when they arrive I will forward them. The councillors' historic garb was just as elaborate as my vestments, but I didn’t have the wig! I had a super barbecue lunch with some of the parishioners and then went off with the Vicar, David Ridley, to do a baptism. It was very different from home. We returned to our hosts for pudding (dessert) and tea. David drove me back to Canterbury in time to arrive at St. Augustine’s Abbey where we had time and a guide to tour the ruins of the Abbey, started by Augustine on his arrival in England. Large parts of it are gone of course since Henry VIII had them destroyed, but parts were rebuilt, and it now houses a school. It was amazing to me to see names from my church history course on markers of former tombs. The Lord Mayor of Canterbury, who was sponsoring the gathering, spoke to us briefly. She took time to tease Archbishop Rowan about this being the burial place of archbishops of Canterbury. He responded in good humour. After drinks and snacks, the coaches returned us to the University for dinner.
The Listeners met at 9pm for the first round of writing. My material was not yet available so our group will have to work tomorrow on the responses to the Bishop and the Environment. However, a draft version of the first part of the report has come together. We try it out on the Indaba groups tomorrow for feedback before our discussion of the Bishops and other faiths.
Saturday, July 26, 2008
July 26, 2008
It has been a beautiful warm day - warm weather, warm people.the day is the Bishop and the Environment. The hymns were wonderful – the lyrics of one by an Australian woman and the other by Brian Wren, but set to tunes well known to most.
One verse from Brian Wren:
“Let all creation dance
in energies sublime,
The Eucharist this morning was led by the Anglican Church of Australia. The theme of
as order turns with chance, unfolding space and time,
for nature’s art
in glory grows,
and newly shows
God’s mind and heart.”
The Bible study today was John 9:1-41. It is such a wonderful story of developing a relationship with Jesus. Our group member, who read it aloud for us, read the voice of the blind man as quite a shift from quite tentative to full of faith in Christ – I AM the man. We had a discussion about healing ministries in our various countries -a wide range of practices.
The Indaba Group this morning was focused on “Safeguarding Creation: the Bishop and the Environment.” This is a serious issue as some members of the Communion are losing their homes because the water has risen about 3 feet; others are experiencing drought, others severe weather disturbances. Our group needed to create a better space. We have been working a space that is too small and chairs that are arranged so I can’t see most people’s faces. After moving the furniture and rearranging ourselves, we decided to start today with “The View From Where We Sit.” Each province or diocese talked about what they saw the issues in the Communion to be, what the Communion means to them and ideas for the renewal of the Communion. Everyone began by saying that they are committed to the Communion and are prepared to be in respectful discussion with one another. This promises to be a fruitful discussion when it re-gathers on Monday. I think we have the extremes of views and behaviour within our Indaba so we can make any progress in discussion, it is a good sign!
The Listeners met for lunch to share out the work which must be in draft form by Sunday night since we have to make our first report on Monday morning! It’s going to be a late night tomorrow night!
This afternoon we were photographed for posterity! What a laugh! Take almost 700 bishops, most of whom are more used to organizing others than being told where to go, and try to get them on 10 rows of bleachers by telling those over 6 ft to sit down first and then working down in height but up the rows of bleachers. You will find me very near the top row. I couldn’t see where Bishop Ron was. While we were there we all sing “Amazing Grace” which was filmed by Tess Sisons who is here reporting for the Journal and the Anglican Church of Canada web site. (There are lots photos there.) After the big photo, the Canadians had a photo done, the women bishops had a photo, and then I was really tacky and asked to have a photo with Archbishop Rowan! Tess took it so it should turn out.
I worked on my sermon for tomorrow this afternoon. I will be at St. Mary the Virgin in Dover tomorrow morning. I hope to really see the white cliffs of Dover at some point! After evening prayer, we had a surprise talk by Archbishop Rowan. He reminded us that weekend is another turning point in the conference. So far we have mostly been focusing on the identity of the Bishop and the Bishop in mission. Next week we get to the idea of a covenant, the work of the Windsor Continuation group and discussions of Scripture and Sexuality. We were gently and clearly called to attend to the work at hand each day.
There are some fringe events tonight but they start late and go late so I am going to bed instead.
Have wonderful services this Sunday.
+Sue
One verse from Brian Wren:
“Let all creation dance
in energies sublime,
The Eucharist this morning was led by the Anglican Church of Australia. The theme of
as order turns with chance, unfolding space and time,
for nature’s art
in glory grows,
and newly shows
God’s mind and heart.”
The Bible study today was John 9:1-41. It is such a wonderful story of developing a relationship with Jesus. Our group member, who read it aloud for us, read the voice of the blind man as quite a shift from quite tentative to full of faith in Christ – I AM the man. We had a discussion about healing ministries in our various countries -a wide range of practices.
The Indaba Group this morning was focused on “Safeguarding Creation: the Bishop and the Environment.” This is a serious issue as some members of the Communion are losing their homes because the water has risen about 3 feet; others are experiencing drought, others severe weather disturbances. Our group needed to create a better space. We have been working a space that is too small and chairs that are arranged so I can’t see most people’s faces. After moving the furniture and rearranging ourselves, we decided to start today with “The View From Where We Sit.” Each province or diocese talked about what they saw the issues in the Communion to be, what the Communion means to them and ideas for the renewal of the Communion. Everyone began by saying that they are committed to the Communion and are prepared to be in respectful discussion with one another. This promises to be a fruitful discussion when it re-gathers on Monday. I think we have the extremes of views and behaviour within our Indaba so we can make any progress in discussion, it is a good sign!
The Listeners met for lunch to share out the work which must be in draft form by Sunday night since we have to make our first report on Monday morning! It’s going to be a late night tomorrow night!
This afternoon we were photographed for posterity! What a laugh! Take almost 700 bishops, most of whom are more used to organizing others than being told where to go, and try to get them on 10 rows of bleachers by telling those over 6 ft to sit down first and then working down in height but up the rows of bleachers. You will find me very near the top row. I couldn’t see where Bishop Ron was. While we were there we all sing “Amazing Grace” which was filmed by Tess Sisons who is here reporting for the Journal and the Anglican Church of Canada web site. (There are lots photos there.) After the big photo, the Canadians had a photo done, the women bishops had a photo, and then I was really tacky and asked to have a photo with Archbishop Rowan! Tess took it so it should turn out.
I worked on my sermon for tomorrow this afternoon. I will be at St. Mary the Virgin in Dover tomorrow morning. I hope to really see the white cliffs of Dover at some point! After evening prayer, we had a surprise talk by Archbishop Rowan. He reminded us that weekend is another turning point in the conference. So far we have mostly been focusing on the identity of the Bishop and the Bishop in mission. Next week we get to the idea of a covenant, the work of the Windsor Continuation group and discussions of Scripture and Sexuality. We were gently and clearly called to attend to the work at hand each day.
There are some fringe events tonight but they start late and go late so I am going to bed instead.
Have wonderful services this Sunday.
+Sue
July 25, 2008
The Eucharist this morning was led by the Church of North India and the Church of Bangladesh. While the shape of the liturgy is always the same, the words of the prayers and the sound of the hymns show the local context. The hymns are sung in the language of those leading with the English translation printed below. Most of us are struggling to produce the unusual sounds of other languages but it is fun trying.
At breakfast we each received a paper butterfly, brightly decorated and holding a square of chocolate, brought to us by the Canterbury Cursillo group.
Bible Study focused on John 8:31-59. There was a long discussion about how we might find ourselves on the receiving end of Jesus’ harsh words. The prayer focus was as follows:
“The words on the seal of the world wide Anglican Communion- “The truth shall set you free” – come from John 8:32. ‘You will know the truth and the truth shall set you free.’ In a time of open prayer let us name those things from which we or our people either have been or need to be ‘set free.’”
The Indaba focus this morning was “The Bishop and other Churches”. We were considering the ways we work together ecumenically. As part of the background material we have excerpts from “The Church of the Triune God”, which is the agreed statement of the Anglican – Orthodox dialogue from 2006. It is a very helpful discussion of similarities not only of teaching but also of structures and understanding of relationships. We also have some material from the Anglican - Roman Catholic dialogue which only points out our differences. There are clearly some bishops here who would like the Communion to be more ‘Roman’ in structure. It is also clear that much important mission work happens ecumenically in local settings regardless of agreed documents. I was surprised to discover at the end of the session that I have been chosen by the group to be their “Listener”. This means that I am the one who shares the input from our group as part of the group who will take the summaries from all the 15 Indaba groups and form the statement from the Lambeth Conference. Your continued prayers would be very much appreciated!
The Listeners met at lunch and after the last session of the day to divide up the work among us. I am working with a bishop from the Church of South India and one from South Africa.
Each province had the opportunity to meet this afternoon to hear what is happening, how we can support each other and the bishops who are here under very difficult circumstances. For my self select session today, I chose the one on Canon law and the Communion. There has been a move for the past six years to compile a body of Anglican Canon law from around the Communion. Well it has happened – “The Principles of Canon Law Common to the Churches of the Anglican Communion” – a small red book listing 100 principles each with several subsections. It was introduced as principles derived from existing Canon law. However, on reading several sections, there are principles listed that do not come out of existing Canon law. When I raised this with Professor Doe, he agreed they had not and could be “dangerous”! But they are in the book and he was the main researcher. I think there will be some problems with this document. They were also giving out free copies of The International Journal of the Study of the Christian Church, Volume 8, Number 2, May 2008, entitled “Communion, Covenant and Canon Law.” I have yet to read it, but it seems to be required reading for Monday afternoon when we go at the Windsor Continuation Group material again.
For dinner tonight I joined a smaller group of about 100 for dinner with ++Rowan and Jane Williams. They are greeting people in smaller groups to try to hear from more from the bishops on a personal level. It was a fine dinner and I had the opportunity to sit with a bishop and his wife from Melanesia, a bishop from North India, a bishop and his wife from Tanzania and the Bishop of Washington, DC and his wife. After dinner there was a presentation on the environment and the responses of some of the churches.
Tomorrow is a lighter day.
At breakfast we each received a paper butterfly, brightly decorated and holding a square of chocolate, brought to us by the Canterbury Cursillo group.
Bible Study focused on John 8:31-59. There was a long discussion about how we might find ourselves on the receiving end of Jesus’ harsh words. The prayer focus was as follows:
“The words on the seal of the world wide Anglican Communion- “The truth shall set you free” – come from John 8:32. ‘You will know the truth and the truth shall set you free.’ In a time of open prayer let us name those things from which we or our people either have been or need to be ‘set free.’”
The Indaba focus this morning was “The Bishop and other Churches”. We were considering the ways we work together ecumenically. As part of the background material we have excerpts from “The Church of the Triune God”, which is the agreed statement of the Anglican – Orthodox dialogue from 2006. It is a very helpful discussion of similarities not only of teaching but also of structures and understanding of relationships. We also have some material from the Anglican - Roman Catholic dialogue which only points out our differences. There are clearly some bishops here who would like the Communion to be more ‘Roman’ in structure. It is also clear that much important mission work happens ecumenically in local settings regardless of agreed documents. I was surprised to discover at the end of the session that I have been chosen by the group to be their “Listener”. This means that I am the one who shares the input from our group as part of the group who will take the summaries from all the 15 Indaba groups and form the statement from the Lambeth Conference. Your continued prayers would be very much appreciated!
The Listeners met at lunch and after the last session of the day to divide up the work among us. I am working with a bishop from the Church of South India and one from South Africa.
Each province had the opportunity to meet this afternoon to hear what is happening, how we can support each other and the bishops who are here under very difficult circumstances. For my self select session today, I chose the one on Canon law and the Communion. There has been a move for the past six years to compile a body of Anglican Canon law from around the Communion. Well it has happened – “The Principles of Canon Law Common to the Churches of the Anglican Communion” – a small red book listing 100 principles each with several subsections. It was introduced as principles derived from existing Canon law. However, on reading several sections, there are principles listed that do not come out of existing Canon law. When I raised this with Professor Doe, he agreed they had not and could be “dangerous”! But they are in the book and he was the main researcher. I think there will be some problems with this document. They were also giving out free copies of The International Journal of the Study of the Christian Church, Volume 8, Number 2, May 2008, entitled “Communion, Covenant and Canon Law.” I have yet to read it, but it seems to be required reading for Monday afternoon when we go at the Windsor Continuation Group material again.
For dinner tonight I joined a smaller group of about 100 for dinner with ++Rowan and Jane Williams. They are greeting people in smaller groups to try to hear from more from the bishops on a personal level. It was a fine dinner and I had the opportunity to sit with a bishop and his wife from Melanesia, a bishop from North India, a bishop and his wife from Tanzania and the Bishop of Washington, DC and his wife. After dinner there was a presentation on the environment and the responses of some of the churches.
Tomorrow is a lighter day.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
July 24, 2008
We were on the bus at 7am headed for London! Most people were half asleep when they got on and they slept most of the way to London. The trip was even interesting since we were fortunate to have a Londoner on our coach and the various historic bits were pointed out for us. We got out at Whitehall to begin the walk. Our bus was the second one to arrive so we had a goodly wait. As a result we got to do interviews with various media from around the world and be photographed with the street wide banner. The photos may appear on the Lambeth web site later.
From ++Rowan’s note to us:
“The walk will be a public act of commitment by the Anglican Communion and other faith groups to continue to put pressure on those who have the power and resources to help end extreme poverty across the globe. It will be about pledging, as a Church, to play our part in continuing to develop lasting solutions. It will also be a walk where we will be in step with those who know at first hand the impact that the unfair distribution of the world’s resources can have on daily living and life opportunities.” At times I walked with a Buddhist monk, the Roman Archbishop from the Middle East, the bishops from Myanmar, Bishop Francis Quashie, and among others, the Bishop of London, who told me our history of being founded by a Bishop of London! I nodded and smiled to be polite. We walked along Abingdon St., past #10 Downing Street, by the parliament building and Big Ben, across the Lambeth Bridge over the Thames to the Lambeth Palace where good cold water was waiting for us! It was a warm and sunny morning so we all have sunburned faces. After all of us had arrived, ++Rowan addressed us briefly and introduced the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown. It was wonderful to hear a Prime Minister speak with passion about caring for the people struggling with poverty around the world. When he was finished, Helen Wangusa, the Anglican Observer at the UN thanked him and started by saying, “If I had the authority to ordain you, I would do it right now!” to a huge round of applause. We learned later that his father was a Methodist preacher.
We were then moved from the outer court into the garden where a huge marquis was set up with tables all ready for us with a good but not extravagant lunch. We had time to walk about and check out the library display on the Millenium Development Goals before we had to queue up again for the coaches. On to Buckingham Palace we went. With our presentation cards and passports in hand, we went through security. The Guard was just changing as we arrived so we saw the ancient procedure (although they are now carrying up-to-date weapons not pretend ones!) Tea was being served out in the garden where there was a lovely breeze that reduced the effect of the sun. Two military bands took turns playing while we awaited the arrival of the Queen. She was supposed join us at 4:30pm and only be there for 20 minutes, but she arrive at 4pm and stayed until 5:30pm! She chatted with many people and then had her tea with the primates and spouses. Prince Philip was also there and also took his time meeting lots of people. The Queen certainly looks to be in good form for an 80 something!
Back on the coaches we went to return to Kent University. Most folks were asleep on the way back. Although the walk was not long, we were standing most of the day. It was a good day – public action and lessons in history. We will be back to work tomorrow.
From ++Rowan’s note to us:
“The walk will be a public act of commitment by the Anglican Communion and other faith groups to continue to put pressure on those who have the power and resources to help end extreme poverty across the globe. It will be about pledging, as a Church, to play our part in continuing to develop lasting solutions. It will also be a walk where we will be in step with those who know at first hand the impact that the unfair distribution of the world’s resources can have on daily living and life opportunities.” At times I walked with a Buddhist monk, the Roman Archbishop from the Middle East, the bishops from Myanmar, Bishop Francis Quashie, and among others, the Bishop of London, who told me our history of being founded by a Bishop of London! I nodded and smiled to be polite. We walked along Abingdon St., past #10 Downing Street, by the parliament building and Big Ben, across the Lambeth Bridge over the Thames to the Lambeth Palace where good cold water was waiting for us! It was a warm and sunny morning so we all have sunburned faces. After all of us had arrived, ++Rowan addressed us briefly and introduced the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown. It was wonderful to hear a Prime Minister speak with passion about caring for the people struggling with poverty around the world. When he was finished, Helen Wangusa, the Anglican Observer at the UN thanked him and started by saying, “If I had the authority to ordain you, I would do it right now!” to a huge round of applause. We learned later that his father was a Methodist preacher.
We were then moved from the outer court into the garden where a huge marquis was set up with tables all ready for us with a good but not extravagant lunch. We had time to walk about and check out the library display on the Millenium Development Goals before we had to queue up again for the coaches. On to Buckingham Palace we went. With our presentation cards and passports in hand, we went through security. The Guard was just changing as we arrived so we saw the ancient procedure (although they are now carrying up-to-date weapons not pretend ones!) Tea was being served out in the garden where there was a lovely breeze that reduced the effect of the sun. Two military bands took turns playing while we awaited the arrival of the Queen. She was supposed join us at 4:30pm and only be there for 20 minutes, but she arrive at 4pm and stayed until 5:30pm! She chatted with many people and then had her tea with the primates and spouses. Prince Philip was also there and also took his time meeting lots of people. The Queen certainly looks to be in good form for an 80 something!
Back on the coaches we went to return to Kent University. Most folks were asleep on the way back. Although the walk was not long, we were standing most of the day. It was a good day – public action and lessons in history. We will be back to work tomorrow.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
July 23, 2008
Well I started the day by locking myself out of my room before Eucharist, so I went off to church hoping to get a key when I returned. The Eucharist was led by the Iglesia Episcopal de Cuba with other Spanish speaking bishops. Bishop Miguel Tamayo of Uruguay led the singing and he was so full of the Spirit that we all sang joyfully even at 7:15am! (and in Spanish too!) I couldn’t face one more line up for food so I came back to Darwin to get a key to let me back in and to have breakfast in my little kitchen. The kitchen overlooks the rose garden which has every colour of rose you could think of! It was a lovely quiet time.
Bible Study is wonderful. This morning it was John 8:1-20. The first focus was, “Verse 12 is pivotal, connecting the two sections. How does Jesus’ declaration that he is “the light of the world” – using the ‘I am’ formula – speak to each of these sections?” We got into questions of how we make judgments that give opportunity for new life rather than death, how do we take time before making decisions (writing in the dust) and how does the light shine on all our sins, not just those of the ‘accused’. The member of our group from Egypt shared an interesting bit from the Middle East where it is sometimes suggested that Jesus is writing the names of the accusers in the dust and they think he knows they have been involved with adultery! The second question was “What does it mean in our Anglican Communion to judge in the light that brings life, not death?” Part of our discussion was filmed for the Daily Journal, so we are waiting to see ourselves as film personalities tomorrow after we return from Tea with the Queen!
The Indaba group today was called “Transforming Society – the Bishop and Social Justice. We had the Millenium development Goals as a focus and a short DVD of Helen Wangusa (the Anglican Observer at the United Nations) talking about how much or little progress has been made on each goal as we move toward 2015. It was the best session of this sort we have had so far. This is a place where almost all of us agree that we can work together from the context of the Gospel to transform the world. We wrote a piece that I hope will become a statement from Lambeth listing the work that the Communion is already doing to move us toward reaching the MDGs by 2015.
After lunch we had a “Hearing”. The Windsor Continuation Group has prepared a page of their thinking about work that is still to be done to follow up from the Windsor Report.
We had the opportunity to tell them what we thought of it! There some positive comments, lots of questions, and some critique. The process seems to be that they take the input and make revisions about where we are going, bring it back in written form by Sunday and then we get another go at it next week. They hope to have to guide to direct future work before we leave here.
For the self select session today, I chose the one on listening when the topic or the person is difficult. Who would have thought that bishops would have such situations?! The leaders were Janet Marshall and Bishop Trevor Mwamba from Botswana. About 16 of us participated. Janet and Trevor come from clearly different settings and their input complimented each other beautifully. We had some practice at listening to each other and we shared some difficult situations. Everyone found it a very useful event. We are so fortunate to have Janet as a resource in our Diocese.
I went to the Marketplace to see what I could find and had great fun helping a bishop from the Congo choose a purple cassock and cincture band at Wippell’s. The salesman saw my name tag and asked if I knew St. James’ Church, Armdale, where they had installed stained glass window! Then he asked about Hantsport! The Anglican world is really quite small.
Tonight I went to a reception by Ripon College. That is the College that hosted the Women in Leadership event. It was fun to see a few of the students I had met at the college and to see how wide spread are the graduates of a small but mighty college. They offer opportunities for one term or one year exchanges that I think we will investigate.
Tomorrow the coaches pick us up at 7am to take us off to London. The walk will take us to Lambeth Palace where we have a visit and lunch. Then off to Buckingham Palace! I hope I do more than frighten a little mouse under a chair!
Bible Study is wonderful. This morning it was John 8:1-20. The first focus was, “Verse 12 is pivotal, connecting the two sections. How does Jesus’ declaration that he is “the light of the world” – using the ‘I am’ formula – speak to each of these sections?” We got into questions of how we make judgments that give opportunity for new life rather than death, how do we take time before making decisions (writing in the dust) and how does the light shine on all our sins, not just those of the ‘accused’. The member of our group from Egypt shared an interesting bit from the Middle East where it is sometimes suggested that Jesus is writing the names of the accusers in the dust and they think he knows they have been involved with adultery! The second question was “What does it mean in our Anglican Communion to judge in the light that brings life, not death?” Part of our discussion was filmed for the Daily Journal, so we are waiting to see ourselves as film personalities tomorrow after we return from Tea with the Queen!
The Indaba group today was called “Transforming Society – the Bishop and Social Justice. We had the Millenium development Goals as a focus and a short DVD of Helen Wangusa (the Anglican Observer at the United Nations) talking about how much or little progress has been made on each goal as we move toward 2015. It was the best session of this sort we have had so far. This is a place where almost all of us agree that we can work together from the context of the Gospel to transform the world. We wrote a piece that I hope will become a statement from Lambeth listing the work that the Communion is already doing to move us toward reaching the MDGs by 2015.
After lunch we had a “Hearing”. The Windsor Continuation Group has prepared a page of their thinking about work that is still to be done to follow up from the Windsor Report.
We had the opportunity to tell them what we thought of it! There some positive comments, lots of questions, and some critique. The process seems to be that they take the input and make revisions about where we are going, bring it back in written form by Sunday and then we get another go at it next week. They hope to have to guide to direct future work before we leave here.
For the self select session today, I chose the one on listening when the topic or the person is difficult. Who would have thought that bishops would have such situations?! The leaders were Janet Marshall and Bishop Trevor Mwamba from Botswana. About 16 of us participated. Janet and Trevor come from clearly different settings and their input complimented each other beautifully. We had some practice at listening to each other and we shared some difficult situations. Everyone found it a very useful event. We are so fortunate to have Janet as a resource in our Diocese.
I went to the Marketplace to see what I could find and had great fun helping a bishop from the Congo choose a purple cassock and cincture band at Wippell’s. The salesman saw my name tag and asked if I knew St. James’ Church, Armdale, where they had installed stained glass window! Then he asked about Hantsport! The Anglican world is really quite small.
Tonight I went to a reception by Ripon College. That is the College that hosted the Women in Leadership event. It was fun to see a few of the students I had met at the college and to see how wide spread are the graduates of a small but mighty college. They offer opportunities for one term or one year exchanges that I think we will investigate.
Tomorrow the coaches pick us up at 7am to take us off to London. The walk will take us to Lambeth Palace where we have a visit and lunch. Then off to Buckingham Palace! I hope I do more than frighten a little mouse under a chair!
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
July 22, 2008
I started out the day by doing yesterday’s blog! I was so sleepy last night after the speaker, I just went to bed. The Eucharist this morning was led by the Province of Central Africa. Three of the bishops concelebrated and Bishop James Tengatenga gave the homily which was excellent. The Gospel today was John 6:1-14, 25-59. Bishop James talked about looking for wonder bread!
Bible study followed this same Gospel and resulted in a great discussion about bread for life and the bread of life. In some of our dioceses, the people do not have enough bread (rice, corn) for a healthy life and the Anglican Church is the relief agency, providing food for life and the food of eternal life. One question was “How does the Eucharist bring life, both in worship and in ordinary life?”
In the Indaba group, we worked on our response to the questions about the signposts on a common journey. The signposts include Founded by Scripture, Shaped through Worship, Ordered for Communion, and Directed by God’s Mission. I was in the group on Ordered for Communion where we spent a lot of time trying to figure out if we really are ordered for communion or whether our structures get in the way. In the end our small group said we valued the Lambeth Conference because here we are having opportunities to talk face to face and to discern that there is common ground among us. We valued the Consultative Council since it involves lay people and clergy who are not bishops. We also placed a positive value on the world wide networks like Mothers’ Union, the Women’s and Family Networks, and programs like Companion Diocese. As I understand it, all the ideas from the 15 Indaba groups are brought together to make a working document for Bishops to take home.
We also started to work on Evangelism. I was in the small group on Evangelism with Young People. We have much to be thankful for in our Diocese! Our Youth are valued far more than some other parts of the world. I talked about our events and support to parishes and several bishops asked for my card to get in touch afterwards. Later this afternoon, we came to Self Selection Sessions for the first time. There is a list of events and we can choose which ones to attend. I chose the Youth one today. The Diocese of Leicester (pronounced Lester) has an approach almost like ours. They have what is called the Bishop’s Youth Council that is made up of representatives from each of the regions of the Diocese. They do planning for Diocesan events. Their next project is to get youth on their Diocesan Council. They were thrilled to hear we already had them. The Archbishop of Canterbury attended this session and made a commitment to work toward having youth on the Archbishop’s Council which greatly encouraged those who have been working hard at youth development in England. (Photo on the Lambeth web site)
This evening I attended a dinner and meeting about Missions to Seafarers. It was great to meet the other bishops who have Missions in their Dioceses – Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, Korea, Australia, England, Wales, Middle East. Some of the problems are the same the world round because of changes in the nature of shipping and in port security. I missed the evening lecture and enjoyed learning more about the Mission. I also learned that our Manager, Maggie Whittingham Lamont, is very highly respected around the world as well as in our mission!
There is a good resource book called the Lambeth Reader which contains a collection of good reference papers. It was published by SPCK just last month and it may be available from them on line. I just got my copy of it today and it seems useful.
Blessings.
+Sue
Bible study followed this same Gospel and resulted in a great discussion about bread for life and the bread of life. In some of our dioceses, the people do not have enough bread (rice, corn) for a healthy life and the Anglican Church is the relief agency, providing food for life and the food of eternal life. One question was “How does the Eucharist bring life, both in worship and in ordinary life?”
In the Indaba group, we worked on our response to the questions about the signposts on a common journey. The signposts include Founded by Scripture, Shaped through Worship, Ordered for Communion, and Directed by God’s Mission. I was in the group on Ordered for Communion where we spent a lot of time trying to figure out if we really are ordered for communion or whether our structures get in the way. In the end our small group said we valued the Lambeth Conference because here we are having opportunities to talk face to face and to discern that there is common ground among us. We valued the Consultative Council since it involves lay people and clergy who are not bishops. We also placed a positive value on the world wide networks like Mothers’ Union, the Women’s and Family Networks, and programs like Companion Diocese. As I understand it, all the ideas from the 15 Indaba groups are brought together to make a working document for Bishops to take home.
We also started to work on Evangelism. I was in the small group on Evangelism with Young People. We have much to be thankful for in our Diocese! Our Youth are valued far more than some other parts of the world. I talked about our events and support to parishes and several bishops asked for my card to get in touch afterwards. Later this afternoon, we came to Self Selection Sessions for the first time. There is a list of events and we can choose which ones to attend. I chose the Youth one today. The Diocese of Leicester (pronounced Lester) has an approach almost like ours. They have what is called the Bishop’s Youth Council that is made up of representatives from each of the regions of the Diocese. They do planning for Diocesan events. Their next project is to get youth on their Diocesan Council. They were thrilled to hear we already had them. The Archbishop of Canterbury attended this session and made a commitment to work toward having youth on the Archbishop’s Council which greatly encouraged those who have been working hard at youth development in England. (Photo on the Lambeth web site)
This evening I attended a dinner and meeting about Missions to Seafarers. It was great to meet the other bishops who have Missions in their Dioceses – Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, Korea, Australia, England, Wales, Middle East. Some of the problems are the same the world round because of changes in the nature of shipping and in port security. I missed the evening lecture and enjoyed learning more about the Mission. I also learned that our Manager, Maggie Whittingham Lamont, is very highly respected around the world as well as in our mission!
There is a good resource book called the Lambeth Reader which contains a collection of good reference papers. It was published by SPCK just last month and it may be available from them on line. I just got my copy of it today and it seems useful.
Blessings.
+Sue
July 21, 2008
The other person in my hallway at Darwin is my alarm clock! I went out to walk/jog this morning in beautiful sunshine. The Eucharist this morning was lead by the Church of Korea. The Choir had stayed on to assist with the music and their beautiful national dress and the gentle music made a fine start to the day.
Bible Study was focused on John 6:14-21, Jesus coming across the water to the disciples. The first question was “What is it that the disciples ‘see’ that makes them afraid?” We then moved on to “What are the things that bring fear to Christians in your context?” Across the wide range of contexts, the answer was loss of a Christian future – whether because of persecution, indifference, no young people – all of us in some way feared for the future of our Anglican Church communities. We moved on to “What are the things that bring fear to us as bishops?” Fear for their lives and those of their people, fear of not discerning God’s will for the church correctly; fear of losing connection with the wider church if the Communion breaks apart. “What might change if we could encounter Jesus saying, “I am, do not be afraid” at this Lambeth Conference?” There is a good mood of hopefulness.
After morning tea, we had our first exposure to Indaba groups. Five Bible Study groups come together to discuss topics. Our room was too small so we had to sit in a circle that had an inner and an outer ring. Every voice is supposed to be heard, but some didn’t speak in the big group. The focus in the morning was “The Bishop and Anglican identity: How do I see myself as an Anglican Bishop?” The process brings the input from the small groups into the larger group and collects it. There is a scribe who puts it all together and comes back to the next session with a compilation. So in the afternoon Indaba we reviewed the statement from the morning and got into wrangling over words, but thankfully the facilitator left the words with a small group to tune up and moved on to the next topic – The Anglican Way: Signposts on a Common Journey. The signposts were, formed by Scripture, shaped through worship, ordered for communion, and directed by God’s mission. We chose four small groups according to each signpost. At the end of one hour, the discussion was lively and there was not yet consensus. The process is supposed to allow enough time for us to work through big topics like how we value Scripture so there was some frustration at the end. We will go back to it tomorrow morning.
The evening presentation was excellent. The speaker was Brian McLaren on Evangelism in a changing world. He has written some books. The one ++Rowan referred to in his introduction is “A Generous Orthodoxy” and McLaren himself referred to another one “More Ready than you Realize”. He looked at major paradigm shifts in 1500, 1750 and 1950CE, how everything changed at each point and how we are still in the current change but often do not see it. His theme was one you have heard from our Youth Ministry Team, “Our call is to form disciples, people who live in the transforming way of Jesus. He was a powerful speaker, keeping us all engaged even though he started at 8pm and went until 10 pm!
Bible Study was focused on John 6:14-21, Jesus coming across the water to the disciples. The first question was “What is it that the disciples ‘see’ that makes them afraid?” We then moved on to “What are the things that bring fear to Christians in your context?” Across the wide range of contexts, the answer was loss of a Christian future – whether because of persecution, indifference, no young people – all of us in some way feared for the future of our Anglican Church communities. We moved on to “What are the things that bring fear to us as bishops?” Fear for their lives and those of their people, fear of not discerning God’s will for the church correctly; fear of losing connection with the wider church if the Communion breaks apart. “What might change if we could encounter Jesus saying, “I am, do not be afraid” at this Lambeth Conference?” There is a good mood of hopefulness.
After morning tea, we had our first exposure to Indaba groups. Five Bible Study groups come together to discuss topics. Our room was too small so we had to sit in a circle that had an inner and an outer ring. Every voice is supposed to be heard, but some didn’t speak in the big group. The focus in the morning was “The Bishop and Anglican identity: How do I see myself as an Anglican Bishop?” The process brings the input from the small groups into the larger group and collects it. There is a scribe who puts it all together and comes back to the next session with a compilation. So in the afternoon Indaba we reviewed the statement from the morning and got into wrangling over words, but thankfully the facilitator left the words with a small group to tune up and moved on to the next topic – The Anglican Way: Signposts on a Common Journey. The signposts were, formed by Scripture, shaped through worship, ordered for communion, and directed by God’s mission. We chose four small groups according to each signpost. At the end of one hour, the discussion was lively and there was not yet consensus. The process is supposed to allow enough time for us to work through big topics like how we value Scripture so there was some frustration at the end. We will go back to it tomorrow morning.
The evening presentation was excellent. The speaker was Brian McLaren on Evangelism in a changing world. He has written some books. The one ++Rowan referred to in his introduction is “A Generous Orthodoxy” and McLaren himself referred to another one “More Ready than you Realize”. He looked at major paradigm shifts in 1500, 1750 and 1950CE, how everything changed at each point and how we are still in the current change but often do not see it. His theme was one you have heard from our Youth Ministry Team, “Our call is to form disciples, people who live in the transforming way of Jesus. He was a powerful speaker, keeping us all engaged even though he started at 8pm and went until 10 pm!
Sunday, July 20, 2008
July 20
Of course when I had the chance to sleep in, I woke up wide awake at 6:30am! So I went for a walk/jog and all the birds in the woods were talking! There are magpies here and they make the most amazing sounds! At breakfast today, across the table was an unknown bishop who turned out to be Bishop Philip Wright from Belize, Nick Hatt’s supervisor during Nick’s work in Belize last summer.
The inevitable coaches pulled up at precisely 9am and we were whisked off to Canterbury. The various protestors are now lining the walking route we take from the coach into Canterbury Cathedral. They have told by the police to be silent, so it is quite odd to be walking by silent protestors holding up signs that have Scripture verses listed. We looked up some of them on our return and I can’t think what they are protesting!
The liturgy was Anglican ceremonial at its best. There are photos of the procession on the Lambeth web site. We were lined up in the Crypt by very officious virgers (local spelling). We stood with our partners for an hour and 15 minutes before the procession started to move. I got to know the bishop beside me and his Diocese in detail during that time. It takes quite a while to get almost 700 bishops and ecumenical partners into the cathedral when they are walking by two’s. The music was glorious while we made our way through the nave up a flight of stairs, through the quire up another flight of stairs to the presbytery. That’s where I stopped, right beside the choir. The Archbishop of Canterbury was sitting in St. Augustine’s chair up another flight of stairs with the various Patriarchs sitting behind him. (There is a map of the Cathedral on their web site.)
The setting for the liturgy was “Missa Luba”, a version of the Latin Mass based on traditional Congolese songs originally presented in 1958. There was a full Congolese percussion section directly across me and the boys of the choir (who were sitting right beside me) were obviously enjoying every bit of it! Parts of the service were in the various languages of the Communion with the English translation alongside. The Gospel book was brought in by Melanesian dancers (who the rest of the time are nuns and brothers who serve on the Chaplaincy Team). The sermon was by Bp Duleep de Chikera from Sri Lanka about the need for reconciliation within the Communion. Since he speaks from his work for reconciliation in Sri Lanka his message had great integrity. We arrived back on campus at 2pm for dinner. There was an hour break and then we “switched gears” as various bishops put it, from Retreat into Conference. There were clear presentations on the style of the conference, our participation and a challenge to honestly and respectfully tackle the difficult questions about covenant, communion, human sexuality, the authority of Scripture and the follow up to the Windsor Report. Apparently some media have been saying we have been doing nothing for three days. Perhaps that is how they see prayer – doing nothing!
This evening we enjoyed a concert by the Mothers’ Union Choir of Korea called “Singing for Peace in Our Land.”
The inevitable coaches pulled up at precisely 9am and we were whisked off to Canterbury. The various protestors are now lining the walking route we take from the coach into Canterbury Cathedral. They have told by the police to be silent, so it is quite odd to be walking by silent protestors holding up signs that have Scripture verses listed. We looked up some of them on our return and I can’t think what they are protesting!
The liturgy was Anglican ceremonial at its best. There are photos of the procession on the Lambeth web site. We were lined up in the Crypt by very officious virgers (local spelling). We stood with our partners for an hour and 15 minutes before the procession started to move. I got to know the bishop beside me and his Diocese in detail during that time. It takes quite a while to get almost 700 bishops and ecumenical partners into the cathedral when they are walking by two’s. The music was glorious while we made our way through the nave up a flight of stairs, through the quire up another flight of stairs to the presbytery. That’s where I stopped, right beside the choir. The Archbishop of Canterbury was sitting in St. Augustine’s chair up another flight of stairs with the various Patriarchs sitting behind him. (There is a map of the Cathedral on their web site.)
The setting for the liturgy was “Missa Luba”, a version of the Latin Mass based on traditional Congolese songs originally presented in 1958. There was a full Congolese percussion section directly across me and the boys of the choir (who were sitting right beside me) were obviously enjoying every bit of it! Parts of the service were in the various languages of the Communion with the English translation alongside. The Gospel book was brought in by Melanesian dancers (who the rest of the time are nuns and brothers who serve on the Chaplaincy Team). The sermon was by Bp Duleep de Chikera from Sri Lanka about the need for reconciliation within the Communion. Since he speaks from his work for reconciliation in Sri Lanka his message had great integrity. We arrived back on campus at 2pm for dinner. There was an hour break and then we “switched gears” as various bishops put it, from Retreat into Conference. There were clear presentations on the style of the conference, our participation and a challenge to honestly and respectfully tackle the difficult questions about covenant, communion, human sexuality, the authority of Scripture and the follow up to the Windsor Report. Apparently some media have been saying we have been doing nothing for three days. Perhaps that is how they see prayer – doing nothing!
This evening we enjoyed a concert by the Mothers’ Union Choir of Korea called “Singing for Peace in Our Land.”
Saturday, July 19, 2008
July 19, 2008
Today was a very gentle day.
Bishop Winston Halapua of Polynesia celebrated the Eucharist at 7:15am this morning. Tomorrow we get to sleep in. The coaches take us to Canterbury at 10am. Beginning Monday, the different Provinces lead the morning Eucharist. Canada’s turn is July 29.
Bible Study today was focused on John 4:6-42. The first question was “What does John’s phrase, ‘it was necessary for Jesus to go through Samaria’ mean for you?” What a range of Samaria’s we had! In the countries where there is conflict because of religion, going through Samaria takes on a whole new meaning. The other question that generated lots of discussion was “What are the stages of mission in the story that lead up to the confession of faith in verse 42?” This is a good question for congregations looking to open up the good news of Jesus Christ for people who have not yet heard it. There is a process that takes time and commitment that Jesus exemplifies in this story.
This morning was our last session of Retreat for the bishops. It was quite different doing this in the Big Top rather than Canterbury Cathedral. The Archbishop spoke about leadership, using Hebrews 10:19-25 as his text. Jesus is the leader because He has gone ahead of us and ‘cleared the way’ for us to go where we could not go of ourselves. Our mission is to go where Jesus has already gone and cleared the way. The Archbishop spoke of encouraging one another – “There is a Way. God will make it known to us.” ++Rowan said clearly leadership is not about giving commands and making decisions. He also clearly said that failure to hope in Christ and failure to seek the new and living Way to God is sin. He closed with two references to Hebrews - 2:9-15 and 12:1-2. Then he asked us to keep silence together for 10 minutes. I would not have believed that it was possible for more than 700 of us to do that, but it happened. When he said “Let us pray,” I couldn’t believe that the 10 minutes were over so soon.
After lunch, we had some free time – what a thought! The Bible Study facilitators met at 3:30pm to review how the groups were working. There have been some logistical problems, especially about translation. While there is translation into many languages, there is no Swahili; one I would have thought would be obvious given the number of folks from areas of Africa where this is the language. However, the study coordinators are adapting on the fly and provided a person to translate the material for one of the spouses’ groups that has 26 Swahili speakers!
The various Ecumenical partners arrived this afternoon and were officially welcomed at Evening Prayer. It was interesting to see how many Canadians were among them. The churches in Canada contribute significantly to the ecumenical scene in the world.
The evening was clear after dinner. Yahoo!
Have wonderful services tomorrow at home. We will be in Canterbury Cathedral.
Blessings.
+Sue
Bishop Winston Halapua of Polynesia celebrated the Eucharist at 7:15am this morning. Tomorrow we get to sleep in. The coaches take us to Canterbury at 10am. Beginning Monday, the different Provinces lead the morning Eucharist. Canada’s turn is July 29.
Bible Study today was focused on John 4:6-42. The first question was “What does John’s phrase, ‘it was necessary for Jesus to go through Samaria’ mean for you?” What a range of Samaria’s we had! In the countries where there is conflict because of religion, going through Samaria takes on a whole new meaning. The other question that generated lots of discussion was “What are the stages of mission in the story that lead up to the confession of faith in verse 42?” This is a good question for congregations looking to open up the good news of Jesus Christ for people who have not yet heard it. There is a process that takes time and commitment that Jesus exemplifies in this story.
This morning was our last session of Retreat for the bishops. It was quite different doing this in the Big Top rather than Canterbury Cathedral. The Archbishop spoke about leadership, using Hebrews 10:19-25 as his text. Jesus is the leader because He has gone ahead of us and ‘cleared the way’ for us to go where we could not go of ourselves. Our mission is to go where Jesus has already gone and cleared the way. The Archbishop spoke of encouraging one another – “There is a Way. God will make it known to us.” ++Rowan said clearly leadership is not about giving commands and making decisions. He also clearly said that failure to hope in Christ and failure to seek the new and living Way to God is sin. He closed with two references to Hebrews - 2:9-15 and 12:1-2. Then he asked us to keep silence together for 10 minutes. I would not have believed that it was possible for more than 700 of us to do that, but it happened. When he said “Let us pray,” I couldn’t believe that the 10 minutes were over so soon.
After lunch, we had some free time – what a thought! The Bible Study facilitators met at 3:30pm to review how the groups were working. There have been some logistical problems, especially about translation. While there is translation into many languages, there is no Swahili; one I would have thought would be obvious given the number of folks from areas of Africa where this is the language. However, the study coordinators are adapting on the fly and provided a person to translate the material for one of the spouses’ groups that has 26 Swahili speakers!
The various Ecumenical partners arrived this afternoon and were officially welcomed at Evening Prayer. It was interesting to see how many Canadians were among them. The churches in Canada contribute significantly to the ecumenical scene in the world.
The evening was clear after dinner. Yahoo!
Have wonderful services tomorrow at home. We will be in Canterbury Cathedral.
Blessings.
+Sue
Friday, July 18, 2008
July 18, 2008
Another good day!
We are beginning to get the rhythm of the place and the queues are shorter. Eucharist was at 7:15am in the Big Top and we strolled off to breakfast afterward.
Bible Study focused on John 1: 19-34. The questions for reflection included, “What does it mean to “make straight the way of the Lord in your context?” and “In what ways have you felt like “one crying in the wilderness”? We finished with “What are the particular challenges of each of our contexts in being a faithful witness to Jesus?” The challenges some of of our brothers and sisters face are extraordinary. We should never take our freedom to gather for public worship for granted. Please pray for those Anglicans who are not free to worship God together, or to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ freely.
The coaches took the bishops off to Canterbury Cathedral at 10:30am. There is a Starbucks right outside the entrance to the Cathedral grounds that has done an amazing business the last two mornings! We have had the gift of having the whole Cathedral to ourselves for these past two days. In return, many of us patronized the Cathedral shop and contributed to the continued upkeep fund for the Cathedral. I doubt we made their 50 million pounds target though!
The Archbishop’s morning meditation focused first on Ezekiel 3 and the questions of to whom we speak, and what do we want to communicate. He moved on to talk about Paul in terms of him losing his first religious language in his encounter with the Risen Christ, moving to the language of silence, then trying to stammer his new language to hostile listeners (Acts 17), and then trying to use the language of the gentiles (1 Corinthians 9:19-22). In speaking about the need to listen first before finding the language to speak, the Archbishop used the phrase “stereo listening” to refer to the attempt to listen to God with one ear and to God’s people with the other ear. He ended with 1 Corinthians 10:31, “So whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” Good advice for bishops and all Christians!
The afternoon meditation began with a quote from Tertullian “A single Christian is no Christian.” ++Rowan pointed out that this is not to do with marital status but willingness to be part of Christian community. He listed some occasions when Jesus sent people out in at least two’s, e.g. Luke 10, Acts 13. He referred to the endings of Paul’s letters where Paul lists all those engaged in the ministry with him, e.g. Colossians 4:2-16. ++Rowan talked about the monastic fathers who were rigorous with themselves, but reluctant to condemn others. He reminded us about the obedience owed to each other in the rule of Benedict. Gently and pointedly, we were reminded about our relationships with each other in what should be a community of bishops. He suggested that instead of making an assumption about another, we speak with that person; instead of being fearful of another, we ask that person to pray for us. He used the phrase, “Put fear in God’s presence.” As one bishop put it, “That had to be said and he did it elegantly!”
On our return home, we were told to pick up our invitations. They included one from ++Rowan to walk in the Walk of Witness for the Millenium Development Goals on July 24. I had not heard about this in Canada, so it may be a British initiative to raise public awareness. The walk apparently takes us by Big Ben, 10 Downing Street, the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey. Hopefully it will be a cool day since I think we are wearing cassocks because of the next event. The second one was from the Lord Chamberlain inviting me to Tea in Buckingham palace on July 24 in the afternoon. All I could think of was the nursery rhyme, “Pussy cat, pussy cat, where have you been? I’ve been to London to visit the Queen”! Me?! The invitation specifies that clergy wear cassocks, ladies wear dress and hat. I wonder if I should wear a hat and a cassock. NOT!
We are beginning to get the rhythm of the place and the queues are shorter. Eucharist was at 7:15am in the Big Top and we strolled off to breakfast afterward.
Bible Study focused on John 1: 19-34. The questions for reflection included, “What does it mean to “make straight the way of the Lord in your context?” and “In what ways have you felt like “one crying in the wilderness”? We finished with “What are the particular challenges of each of our contexts in being a faithful witness to Jesus?” The challenges some of of our brothers and sisters face are extraordinary. We should never take our freedom to gather for public worship for granted. Please pray for those Anglicans who are not free to worship God together, or to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ freely.
The coaches took the bishops off to Canterbury Cathedral at 10:30am. There is a Starbucks right outside the entrance to the Cathedral grounds that has done an amazing business the last two mornings! We have had the gift of having the whole Cathedral to ourselves for these past two days. In return, many of us patronized the Cathedral shop and contributed to the continued upkeep fund for the Cathedral. I doubt we made their 50 million pounds target though!
The Archbishop’s morning meditation focused first on Ezekiel 3 and the questions of to whom we speak, and what do we want to communicate. He moved on to talk about Paul in terms of him losing his first religious language in his encounter with the Risen Christ, moving to the language of silence, then trying to stammer his new language to hostile listeners (Acts 17), and then trying to use the language of the gentiles (1 Corinthians 9:19-22). In speaking about the need to listen first before finding the language to speak, the Archbishop used the phrase “stereo listening” to refer to the attempt to listen to God with one ear and to God’s people with the other ear. He ended with 1 Corinthians 10:31, “So whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” Good advice for bishops and all Christians!
The afternoon meditation began with a quote from Tertullian “A single Christian is no Christian.” ++Rowan pointed out that this is not to do with marital status but willingness to be part of Christian community. He listed some occasions when Jesus sent people out in at least two’s, e.g. Luke 10, Acts 13. He referred to the endings of Paul’s letters where Paul lists all those engaged in the ministry with him, e.g. Colossians 4:2-16. ++Rowan talked about the monastic fathers who were rigorous with themselves, but reluctant to condemn others. He reminded us about the obedience owed to each other in the rule of Benedict. Gently and pointedly, we were reminded about our relationships with each other in what should be a community of bishops. He suggested that instead of making an assumption about another, we speak with that person; instead of being fearful of another, we ask that person to pray for us. He used the phrase, “Put fear in God’s presence.” As one bishop put it, “That had to be said and he did it elegantly!”
On our return home, we were told to pick up our invitations. They included one from ++Rowan to walk in the Walk of Witness for the Millenium Development Goals on July 24. I had not heard about this in Canada, so it may be a British initiative to raise public awareness. The walk apparently takes us by Big Ben, 10 Downing Street, the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey. Hopefully it will be a cool day since I think we are wearing cassocks because of the next event. The second one was from the Lord Chamberlain inviting me to Tea in Buckingham palace on July 24 in the afternoon. All I could think of was the nursery rhyme, “Pussy cat, pussy cat, where have you been? I’ve been to London to visit the Queen”! Me?! The invitation specifies that clergy wear cassocks, ladies wear dress and hat. I wonder if I should wear a hat and a cassock. NOT!
Thursday, July 17, 2008
July 17, 2008
It has been a wonderful day!
We began with Eucharist at 7:30am in the Big Top – doesn’t that sound odd? The celebrant was Bishop Winston Halapua from Polynesia. The person in charge of the logistics must be really good. We all (about 1400) received Communion in an orderly but not rushed manner is about 15 minutes.
Our Bible Study group is just indicative of the diversity here. We have 3 Burmese bishops and a translator, one French speaking bishop and another translator, an Australian, a bishop from Egypt, one from the US and myself! Today we were studying the opening of John’s Gospel. Memories of hearing this read aloud were beautiful. Like wise our stories of how this passage has been important in our ministry were far ranging. This group will meet each morning throughout Lambeth.
We then queued up for buses to take us to Canterbury Cathedral. Standing in line gives time to meet and talk with those around me. On the way I met bishops from North India. One knew that there had been a student from Canada with them. I also met up with Bishop Francis Quashie. Some of you will remember him from his time at AST. At the Cathedral I found Bishop Sebastian Bakare who visited our diocese when he was Bishop of Manicaland. He is now Bishop of Harare. The bishop we had in Nova Scotia last Fall, Ellson Jakazi, is no longer bishop of Manicaland. They are waiting for a new one to be named. Please pray for the people of Zimbabwe. Life is very difficult there.
Archbishop Rowan led us in two meditations today. The first focused on Galatians 1:16, “…when God was pleased to reveal his Son in me…” and challenged us to consider how Jesus is revealed through us as bishops. He insisted that we start with prayers of thanksgiving- giving thanks for one another and those not here, for the bishops who confirmed us and ordained us. He raised the question, “How is Jesus’ healing, forgiveness, challenge, promise made known as we celebrate the Eucharist?”
The second began with the mission of the bishop to gather the scattered children of God. The Scripture focus was 2 Corinthians 11:28-29. Archbishop Rowan called us to remember that we are gathered together around Christ, to bear one another’s burdens, to experience the failures and weaknesses of one another, in order to allow God to be at work among us changing us into what God wants. He went to Philippians 3:12 to remind us that we belong to Christ and we need to continually let Christ take hold of us if we are to minister in His name.
There are many little spaces in the Cathedral, in the crypt and outside to sit in God’s presence and pray. There are many Anglican nuns and monks here to sit with us to pray if we wish. There are chaplains to talk with and to hear confessions.
Ron and I finally met up with each other! We had thought that he was the most newly ordained bishop, but someone was ordained July 6!
Evensong was held in the Cathedral and the men and boys’ choir chanted the canticles to Orlando Gibbons settings. Then we queued up again to get the buses home. Supper was a little less crazy than last night. People seemed to have found the second dining room. The campus staff and the conference staff are really excellent at getting us where we need to be.
The evening event tonight was a book launch of Jane Williams’ book, “Marriage, Miters and being Myself”. I am bringing a copy home for Bruce! The University of Kent is a Fair trade Campus, so we enjoyed Fairly-traded red and white wine and wonderful chocolate, while Jane Williams signed books.
It’s an early night for us all. Tomorrow is another Bible Study and Retreat Day.
We began with Eucharist at 7:30am in the Big Top – doesn’t that sound odd? The celebrant was Bishop Winston Halapua from Polynesia. The person in charge of the logistics must be really good. We all (about 1400) received Communion in an orderly but not rushed manner is about 15 minutes.
Our Bible Study group is just indicative of the diversity here. We have 3 Burmese bishops and a translator, one French speaking bishop and another translator, an Australian, a bishop from Egypt, one from the US and myself! Today we were studying the opening of John’s Gospel. Memories of hearing this read aloud were beautiful. Like wise our stories of how this passage has been important in our ministry were far ranging. This group will meet each morning throughout Lambeth.
We then queued up for buses to take us to Canterbury Cathedral. Standing in line gives time to meet and talk with those around me. On the way I met bishops from North India. One knew that there had been a student from Canada with them. I also met up with Bishop Francis Quashie. Some of you will remember him from his time at AST. At the Cathedral I found Bishop Sebastian Bakare who visited our diocese when he was Bishop of Manicaland. He is now Bishop of Harare. The bishop we had in Nova Scotia last Fall, Ellson Jakazi, is no longer bishop of Manicaland. They are waiting for a new one to be named. Please pray for the people of Zimbabwe. Life is very difficult there.
Archbishop Rowan led us in two meditations today. The first focused on Galatians 1:16, “…when God was pleased to reveal his Son in me…” and challenged us to consider how Jesus is revealed through us as bishops. He insisted that we start with prayers of thanksgiving- giving thanks for one another and those not here, for the bishops who confirmed us and ordained us. He raised the question, “How is Jesus’ healing, forgiveness, challenge, promise made known as we celebrate the Eucharist?”
The second began with the mission of the bishop to gather the scattered children of God. The Scripture focus was 2 Corinthians 11:28-29. Archbishop Rowan called us to remember that we are gathered together around Christ, to bear one another’s burdens, to experience the failures and weaknesses of one another, in order to allow God to be at work among us changing us into what God wants. He went to Philippians 3:12 to remind us that we belong to Christ and we need to continually let Christ take hold of us if we are to minister in His name.
There are many little spaces in the Cathedral, in the crypt and outside to sit in God’s presence and pray. There are many Anglican nuns and monks here to sit with us to pray if we wish. There are chaplains to talk with and to hear confessions.
Ron and I finally met up with each other! We had thought that he was the most newly ordained bishop, but someone was ordained July 6!
Evensong was held in the Cathedral and the men and boys’ choir chanted the canticles to Orlando Gibbons settings. Then we queued up again to get the buses home. Supper was a little less crazy than last night. People seemed to have found the second dining room. The campus staff and the conference staff are really excellent at getting us where we need to be.
The evening event tonight was a book launch of Jane Williams’ book, “Marriage, Miters and being Myself”. I am bringing a copy home for Bruce! The University of Kent is a Fair trade Campus, so we enjoyed Fairly-traded red and white wine and wonderful chocolate, while Jane Williams signed books.
It’s an early night for us all. Tomorrow is another Bible Study and Retreat Day.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
July 16, 2008
The pace suddenly increased, as did the number of purple shirts around here!
The training for the Bible Study facilitators was excellent this morning. Dr Gerald West, from South Africa, put us through an example of the process. The intent is that every bishop's voice be heard. It reminded me of our General Synod theme in Montreal, "Lift Every Voice." The temperature and the humidity are promising to be similar! If you have looked at the Bible Studies on the Anglican Communion web site, you will have an idea of the format. Tomorrow we begin the Prologue of John's Gospel. The discussion question is, "What is your earliest memory of hearing the Prologue read aloud?" I imagine that these memories will begin to help us understand the settings from which we come. In my group, I have bishops from the U.S., Egypt, Canterbury, Myanmar, Sittwe, Boga and Dover. I am looking forward to getting to know them.
After lunch, I walked down into Canterbury. It took about 35 minutes and it was all downhill going there. It is a serious tourist location around the Cathedral. The streets are closed to cars during the day so there are people walking everywhere.
There also groups of pilgrims who have followed a specific route to walk from various points to arrive at the Cathedral. Perhaps we should get a pilgrimage organized from Nova Scotia or PEI to go to Canterbury in the future. I had tea with the Dean of the Cathedral who will welcome all the Bishops to the Cathedral for the next three days for our retreat. He also wrote the lyrics of the theme hymn based on the "I am" sayings. It is quite lovely and is sung to a well known tune. (With the walk back up the hill, I should sleep well.)
The opening introducations took place this evening inside the "Big Top", a huge blue tent. This is where the major sessions for the the Bishops will take place as well. The Archbishop of Canterbury welcomed us all, bishops and spouses, staff, guests, youth stewards, media representatives. He stressed the focus on Scripture, saying we need to be able "to speak the language of the Scriptures". He was very clear that the intention is that "every voice be heard", that relationships of trust be built, and that no one should pretend that we do not need each other. He talked about the us being a "wounded body", and asked us all to remember those who are not here daily. He closed with the comment, "We need to learn to trust God, to trust one another, so that we will be able to change as God wants us to."
We had help to exit almost 1600 people from the Big Top with decency and order. Feeding 1600 people in two big dining rooms took some time, so we made every effort to start to get to know people while waiting in queues (lines). One bishop from the Sudan and his wife have a very small baby girl who entertained several of us for part of the queue. I met folks from Australia, one of whom had met Ethel Nelson at the world wide Mothers' Union gathering in Australia. Small world? When I sat down for supper, the bishop across the table was from Kenya and had studied at the Coady Institute in Antigonish! Beside me arrived a bishop from the Sudan. When I said I was from Canada, he said, "You are our friends. You have welcomed our people when they went into exile because of the war. You are our friends." I have reconnected with several of the women I met in New York. More of them than I realized are bishop's wives.
I have to get the Bible Study material in order for tomorrow morning at 9am. Thank you for your prayers. They are very important to all of us.
The training for the Bible Study facilitators was excellent this morning. Dr Gerald West, from South Africa, put us through an example of the process. The intent is that every bishop's voice be heard. It reminded me of our General Synod theme in Montreal, "Lift Every Voice." The temperature and the humidity are promising to be similar! If you have looked at the Bible Studies on the Anglican Communion web site, you will have an idea of the format. Tomorrow we begin the Prologue of John's Gospel. The discussion question is, "What is your earliest memory of hearing the Prologue read aloud?" I imagine that these memories will begin to help us understand the settings from which we come. In my group, I have bishops from the U.S., Egypt, Canterbury, Myanmar, Sittwe, Boga and Dover. I am looking forward to getting to know them.
After lunch, I walked down into Canterbury. It took about 35 minutes and it was all downhill going there. It is a serious tourist location around the Cathedral. The streets are closed to cars during the day so there are people walking everywhere.
There also groups of pilgrims who have followed a specific route to walk from various points to arrive at the Cathedral. Perhaps we should get a pilgrimage organized from Nova Scotia or PEI to go to Canterbury in the future. I had tea with the Dean of the Cathedral who will welcome all the Bishops to the Cathedral for the next three days for our retreat. He also wrote the lyrics of the theme hymn based on the "I am" sayings. It is quite lovely and is sung to a well known tune. (With the walk back up the hill, I should sleep well.)
The opening introducations took place this evening inside the "Big Top", a huge blue tent. This is where the major sessions for the the Bishops will take place as well. The Archbishop of Canterbury welcomed us all, bishops and spouses, staff, guests, youth stewards, media representatives. He stressed the focus on Scripture, saying we need to be able "to speak the language of the Scriptures". He was very clear that the intention is that "every voice be heard", that relationships of trust be built, and that no one should pretend that we do not need each other. He talked about the us being a "wounded body", and asked us all to remember those who are not here daily. He closed with the comment, "We need to learn to trust God, to trust one another, so that we will be able to change as God wants us to."
We had help to exit almost 1600 people from the Big Top with decency and order. Feeding 1600 people in two big dining rooms took some time, so we made every effort to start to get to know people while waiting in queues (lines). One bishop from the Sudan and his wife have a very small baby girl who entertained several of us for part of the queue. I met folks from Australia, one of whom had met Ethel Nelson at the world wide Mothers' Union gathering in Australia. Small world? When I sat down for supper, the bishop across the table was from Kenya and had studied at the Coady Institute in Antigonish! Beside me arrived a bishop from the Sudan. When I said I was from Canada, he said, "You are our friends. You have welcomed our people when they went into exile because of the war. You are our friends." I have reconnected with several of the women I met in New York. More of them than I realized are bishop's wives.
I have to get the Bible Study material in order for tomorrow morning at 9am. Thank you for your prayers. They are very important to all of us.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
July 15, 2008
Today was moving day! I left Hereford this morning and traveled across England to Canterbury by coach (bus). We traveled through one area that had red soil and the fields were planted with potatoes! For a moment I thought I was back in the diocese!
After a five hour trip we arrived at Kent University - a very large campus with lane ways too small for the coach to turn around! The driver did a masterful job of backing out of a very curved lane way. Registration was a bit complex as with most international gatherings. I am living in Darwin House - a recently upgraded complex that is quite fine. Walking across to supper I found a spot where I could look out over Canterbury which is a 20 minute walk away and downhill from the university. It is really amazing to me to be looking at the real Canterbury Cathedral. I am going to walk there tomorrow when there is the only free time I can see in the agenda.
Tonight was the introduction to the Bible Study process and the Indaba group process. I will be a faciltator for a Bible Study group of eight bishops, a very daunting prospect. Tonight I met some of the others: Dennis from Mozambique, Todd from Madagascar, John from New Zealand,Robert from Jamaica. Tomorrow there is another training session so we know the method of the study.
It's an early night for me. The opening session begins at 8pm tomorrow night!
After a five hour trip we arrived at Kent University - a very large campus with lane ways too small for the coach to turn around! The driver did a masterful job of backing out of a very curved lane way. Registration was a bit complex as with most international gatherings. I am living in Darwin House - a recently upgraded complex that is quite fine. Walking across to supper I found a spot where I could look out over Canterbury which is a 20 minute walk away and downhill from the university. It is really amazing to me to be looking at the real Canterbury Cathedral. I am going to walk there tomorrow when there is the only free time I can see in the agenda.
Tonight was the introduction to the Bible Study process and the Indaba group process. I will be a faciltator for a Bible Study group of eight bishops, a very daunting prospect. Tonight I met some of the others: Dennis from Mozambique, Todd from Madagascar, John from New Zealand,Robert from Jamaica. Tomorrow there is another training session so we know the method of the study.
It's an early night for me. The opening session begins at 8pm tomorrow night!
Monday, July 14, 2008
July 14, 2008
Well, I have been away almost a week! Sometimes it seems a long time, but every minute of the day is full with new opportunities to experience God's amazing grace!
Today, after morning prayers, a walk and breakfast, I met with a group of lay and clergy, men and women, in the Bishop's Palace, to talk about discernment of gifts for ordination. I had opportunity to hear their concerns about the potential for women in leadership roles in the church and their excitement about the General Synod of the Church of England vote to allow women to be bishops. Their system and process has been very different from ours. In our church, the basic question was, "Can women be ordained?" The Yes answer meant ordained to any order. In England, the first vote was "Can women be ordained priests?" So they have just had the obvious second question, "Can women become bishops?" For some reason, some folks think they should have financial compensation if they choose to leave the church because a woman may become a bishop! I wonder if women who leave the church because women do not become bishops will be entitled to a similar compensation?!
After the discussion, I went to lunch with a clergy couple from the northern part of the Hereford diocese at a cafe in a church. It is an ingenious design. The nave has been redesigned to keep the front half of a large church as worship space. The rear half has been reshaped into a ground level cafe (with excellent food) and an upper story for the cafe that is suspended from the roof! It was full of people - some praying - some eating lunch. This has been a creative solution to under utilized space and a lack of funds to operate the church.
From the cafe I went to an interview with BBC Wales that was the lunch hour phone show. The folks who called in asked about Canada, were happy some bishops who are women had come to visit, and were keen for the Lambeth Conference to move the church on to building the Kingdom of God!
I had the opportunity to visit the Mappa Mundi exibit in one of the wings of the Cathedral. They have a web site where you can learn more about this interesting theological staement about the geography of the world as they knew it to the Reign of Christ. There is an intriguing thing called the Chained Library - every book has a chain which secures the book but allows it to be opened on the desk in front of the shelf for study. If you Google Mappa Mundi you will find more about it.
In the afternoon, I went to the home of one of the women who has been working toward the full inclusion of women in all levels of the church for more than 30 years. There I met more clergy and lay people and one determined 10 year old girl who announced quite clearly that women ought to be bishops so she could be one someday! At the end of the time, there was an agreement that many other parts of the Communion need to keep the Church of England in prayer as they move through the years ahead. One of the organizers of the afternoon was unable to attend due to treatment for cancer. I was able to meet with her in the evening. She is a priest and her name is Barbara and I ask your preayers for her. I invited her to come to Nova Scotia and her reply was that she would not be making another trip to North America.
I had a lovely dinner with my hosts, Sue and Roger, and now I off to repack the suitcase again for the move to Kent University tomorrow and the beginning of the Lambeth Conference.
Many Blessings.
+Sue
Today, after morning prayers, a walk and breakfast, I met with a group of lay and clergy, men and women, in the Bishop's Palace, to talk about discernment of gifts for ordination. I had opportunity to hear their concerns about the potential for women in leadership roles in the church and their excitement about the General Synod of the Church of England vote to allow women to be bishops. Their system and process has been very different from ours. In our church, the basic question was, "Can women be ordained?" The Yes answer meant ordained to any order. In England, the first vote was "Can women be ordained priests?" So they have just had the obvious second question, "Can women become bishops?" For some reason, some folks think they should have financial compensation if they choose to leave the church because a woman may become a bishop! I wonder if women who leave the church because women do not become bishops will be entitled to a similar compensation?!
After the discussion, I went to lunch with a clergy couple from the northern part of the Hereford diocese at a cafe in a church. It is an ingenious design. The nave has been redesigned to keep the front half of a large church as worship space. The rear half has been reshaped into a ground level cafe (with excellent food) and an upper story for the cafe that is suspended from the roof! It was full of people - some praying - some eating lunch. This has been a creative solution to under utilized space and a lack of funds to operate the church.
From the cafe I went to an interview with BBC Wales that was the lunch hour phone show. The folks who called in asked about Canada, were happy some bishops who are women had come to visit, and were keen for the Lambeth Conference to move the church on to building the Kingdom of God!
I had the opportunity to visit the Mappa Mundi exibit in one of the wings of the Cathedral. They have a web site where you can learn more about this interesting theological staement about the geography of the world as they knew it to the Reign of Christ. There is an intriguing thing called the Chained Library - every book has a chain which secures the book but allows it to be opened on the desk in front of the shelf for study. If you Google Mappa Mundi you will find more about it.
In the afternoon, I went to the home of one of the women who has been working toward the full inclusion of women in all levels of the church for more than 30 years. There I met more clergy and lay people and one determined 10 year old girl who announced quite clearly that women ought to be bishops so she could be one someday! At the end of the time, there was an agreement that many other parts of the Communion need to keep the Church of England in prayer as they move through the years ahead. One of the organizers of the afternoon was unable to attend due to treatment for cancer. I was able to meet with her in the evening. She is a priest and her name is Barbara and I ask your preayers for her. I invited her to come to Nova Scotia and her reply was that she would not be making another trip to North America.
I had a lovely dinner with my hosts, Sue and Roger, and now I off to repack the suitcase again for the move to Kent University tomorrow and the beginning of the Lambeth Conference.
Many Blessings.
+Sue
Sunday, July 13, 2008
July 13, 2008
It has been a busy 2 days! Saturday morning I printed my sermon so it would be ready for this morning. Then my hostess, Sue, took me off to the International Gathering at the Priory of St. Peter and St. Paul in Leominster. The other bishops in the group here are John from New Zealand, Simon from Tanzania, Martin from Burundi, Patrick from Tanzania, Ken from Ohio and Rayford from Texas. We were welcomed to the historic building that was founded by St. David in the 6th sentury. A Saxon religious communitywas followed by an abbey of Benedictine nuns and then a Benedictine abbey of monks in Normand times. Of course the whole thing was dissolved by Henry VIII, but it has gradually been rebuilt over the centuries to be now a very active city congregation. We were treated to a Ploughman's lunch as part of their regular Saturday offering to the people in the town. We saw and particpated with a group of Morris Dancers, had the opportunity to be in the percussion section with the town brass band, and heard a wonderful handbell choir! Then it was an hour of "Any Questions for the Bishops?" It was a great opportunity to hear about the other dioceses, their challenges and exciting projects. After Tea, we had a lovely short service of prayers and songs. We had each been asked to send a copy of a song. The band and the organist had learned the tunes so we could all sing along. I chose "Here in this place new light is shining" from Common Praise. It was a new hymn for most of them and well received. At the end of the service, all the Bishops were called to the front and then surrounded by the people who prayed for us and for the Lambeth Conference. It was a powerful experience.
We had a break for an hour, so I went for a walk to see the town. There are beautiful gardens, both manicured ones and wildflower gardens. Apparently Leominster won the Towns in Bloom contest in their part of England!
SUpper was served in the Bishop's Palace! It really is a palace with a high stone wall, a gate, gorgeous gardens, an indorr chapel and an outdoor chapel (with modern icons by the bishop's wife, artist, Kathy Priddis). Dinner was another opportunity to get to know more about each other and to share hopes and challenges. The Diocese of Hereford has a number of Team Ministries for groups of congregations, so I has a good conversation with Bishop Anthony. Here, what we call NSOM clergy are called SSM - Self Supporting Ministers.
This morning we were up and on the road for an 8:20am radio interview in Hereford. The interviewer was very polite but didn't really seem to know much about the Church fo England or the Communion as he referred to me as the head of the Lambeth Conference! The next inteview at 8:40am was much better. Hereford Diocese has a fulltime Communications Officer who had arranged for several interviews. Next I was on to the Cathedral for the 10am service. Parts of the Cathedral date from the 600's. It was quite a feeling to preach from a pulpit that has been in use for 1,000 years! The liturgy was very similar to our BAS Eucharist. At the end the 14 children of their Sunday School sang "You shall go out with joy" accompanied by one of the clergy at the piano and several bells and tambourines. After the service we had tea in the Cathedral gardens in the Close (where church volunteers operate a cafe for the public daily).
Then my hostess Sue took me off to a wonderful dinner in a pub on the English side of the Welsh border. I finally got to meet her husband Roger, who has been away on Retreat in a hermitage in Wales. On a drive through the Black Mountains, we stopped at St. David's Church, Llanthony, where a Baptism was just about to take place. We visited the ruins of the Abbey at the same location where enterprising folks have turned part of the ruin into a small hotel! We continued through the mountains to the top of Gospel Pass! Then we started the descent which had several parts like the Cabot Trail but with no guard rails! The views are spectacular - amazingly green fields dotted by hundreds of sheep, small villages of stone and brick houses, and always a grey stone Church of England.
I ended the day with Evening Prayer in the Church of St. Michael and All Angels in Moccas. The records show that an abbey on this location was destoyed by the Saxons and the plague in 600CE. It is not clear how long it had already been there. It has been repaired and rebuilt many times over the years - a testament to the determined faith of the people of the community. There is an Effigy in the centre of the Chancel thought to be Richard de Fresne (of one of the local families) who died in 1375 CE. The plaque says, "His crossed legs show that he had been on a crusade, and the dog at his feet that he died at home." (That's your trivia for the day!) Following the service (which was almost word for word the same as our BCP Evening Prayer), I had time to talk with the people about our Diocese and to hear about their concerns. It has been a full and happy day!
We had a break for an hour, so I went for a walk to see the town. There are beautiful gardens, both manicured ones and wildflower gardens. Apparently Leominster won the Towns in Bloom contest in their part of England!
SUpper was served in the Bishop's Palace! It really is a palace with a high stone wall, a gate, gorgeous gardens, an indorr chapel and an outdoor chapel (with modern icons by the bishop's wife, artist, Kathy Priddis). Dinner was another opportunity to get to know more about each other and to share hopes and challenges. The Diocese of Hereford has a number of Team Ministries for groups of congregations, so I has a good conversation with Bishop Anthony. Here, what we call NSOM clergy are called SSM - Self Supporting Ministers.
This morning we were up and on the road for an 8:20am radio interview in Hereford. The interviewer was very polite but didn't really seem to know much about the Church fo England or the Communion as he referred to me as the head of the Lambeth Conference! The next inteview at 8:40am was much better. Hereford Diocese has a fulltime Communications Officer who had arranged for several interviews. Next I was on to the Cathedral for the 10am service. Parts of the Cathedral date from the 600's. It was quite a feeling to preach from a pulpit that has been in use for 1,000 years! The liturgy was very similar to our BAS Eucharist. At the end the 14 children of their Sunday School sang "You shall go out with joy" accompanied by one of the clergy at the piano and several bells and tambourines. After the service we had tea in the Cathedral gardens in the Close (where church volunteers operate a cafe for the public daily).
Then my hostess Sue took me off to a wonderful dinner in a pub on the English side of the Welsh border. I finally got to meet her husband Roger, who has been away on Retreat in a hermitage in Wales. On a drive through the Black Mountains, we stopped at St. David's Church, Llanthony, where a Baptism was just about to take place. We visited the ruins of the Abbey at the same location where enterprising folks have turned part of the ruin into a small hotel! We continued through the mountains to the top of Gospel Pass! Then we started the descent which had several parts like the Cabot Trail but with no guard rails! The views are spectacular - amazingly green fields dotted by hundreds of sheep, small villages of stone and brick houses, and always a grey stone Church of England.
I ended the day with Evening Prayer in the Church of St. Michael and All Angels in Moccas. The records show that an abbey on this location was destoyed by the Saxons and the plague in 600CE. It is not clear how long it had already been there. It has been repaired and rebuilt many times over the years - a testament to the determined faith of the people of the community. There is an Effigy in the centre of the Chancel thought to be Richard de Fresne (of one of the local families) who died in 1375 CE. The plaque says, "His crossed legs show that he had been on a crusade, and the dog at his feet that he died at home." (That's your trivia for the day!) Following the service (which was almost word for word the same as our BCP Evening Prayer), I had time to talk with the people about our Diocese and to hear about their concerns. It has been a full and happy day!
Friday, July 11, 2008
July 11, 2008
The day began with monring prayer in the Cuddesdon village church. After breakfast we again studied 2 Corinthians. This time 2 Cor. 5:14b to 21. Dr. Gooder's approach to Paul is certainly engaging! What if Paul's new creation is a world reconciled? A good thought heading into Lambeth.
Below is Dr. Gooder's poem for the mediatation.
Behold new creation
God begins againthe patient task of shaping things into life
Behold new creation
The new creation springs forth, governed,
not by barriers but by freedom,
not by separation but by unity,
not in alienation but in realtionship.
Behold new creation
And we are called to be co creators,
Carefully crafting
Faithfully proclaiming
Joyfully encouraging
all people into realtionship with each other and with God
Behold, new creation
On behalf of Christ we beg you - be reconciled
The closing reflection tied up the pieces of the conference using the image of the veil - the veil over Moses' face, the veil in 2 Cor., the veils that people use to hide themselves, the veils that have to be removed when speaking face to face.
The conference ended with the Eucharist: presider and preacher, The Most Rev'd Katherine Jefferts Schori. I hope that her semon is posted on the Episcopal Church web site.
So now I am in Hereford Diocese staying with one of the clergy and his wife, Sue! You can learn more about Hereford Cathedral where I will be preaching on Sunday at http://www.herefordcathedral.org . The study in which I am working looks out at the Black Mountains which form the border between Wales and England. It is truly lovely seeing those mountains through a window framed in gorgeous roses!
Trivia: Did you know that on a British computer the @ and the # are located in a different place?
Below is Dr. Gooder's poem for the mediatation.
Behold new creation
God begins againthe patient task of shaping things into life
Behold new creation
The new creation springs forth, governed,
not by barriers but by freedom,
not by separation but by unity,
not in alienation but in realtionship.
Behold new creation
And we are called to be co creators,
Carefully crafting
Faithfully proclaiming
Joyfully encouraging
all people into realtionship with each other and with God
Behold, new creation
On behalf of Christ we beg you - be reconciled
The closing reflection tied up the pieces of the conference using the image of the veil - the veil over Moses' face, the veil in 2 Cor., the veils that people use to hide themselves, the veils that have to be removed when speaking face to face.
The conference ended with the Eucharist: presider and preacher, The Most Rev'd Katherine Jefferts Schori. I hope that her semon is posted on the Episcopal Church web site.
So now I am in Hereford Diocese staying with one of the clergy and his wife, Sue! You can learn more about Hereford Cathedral where I will be preaching on Sunday at http://www.herefordcathedral.org . The study in which I am working looks out at the Black Mountains which form the border between Wales and England. It is truly lovely seeing those mountains through a window framed in gorgeous roses!
Trivia: Did you know that on a British computer the @ and the # are located in a different place?
Thursday, July 10, 2008
July 10, 2008
The day began again at 7:30am. No brollies or mack’s today! (That is no umbrellas or raincoats in Canadian!) Morning Prayer was followed by the Eucharist and then breakfast. The Bible Study this morning focused on 2 Cor.4:1-12. The following prayer for the meditation was from Dietrich Bonhoeffer
“God of the day and of the night,
in me there is darkness, but with you there is light.
I am alone, but you will not leave me.
I am weak, but you come to my help.
I am restless, but you are my peace.
I am in haste, but you are the God of infinite patience.
I am confused and lost, but you are eternal wisdom and you direct my path;
now and for ever.
Amen.”
The second morning session was called “News Sharing”. The vote to allow women bishops in the Church of England is so recent that folks are still trying to figure out how to respond to it. Unlike the
The official group photo was taken today. One of the folks is going to email me a copy so I can post it when it arrives. My camera has died!
After lunch we went off on various tours. The coach arrived for us. (That’s a bus in Canadian!) I went to
We returned in time for afternoon Tea!
The late afternoon panel was entitled “Power/Authority”. Bishop Catherine Roskam of New York and the Dean of Salisbury Cathedral, The Very Rev’d June Osborne, presented very different pictures of authority, raised questions about titles and how they convey power (or not), and closed with three questions:
- How does our vocation flourish?
- How do we encourage health/wholeness in ministry at all church levels?
- Who sets the agenda in the church at the various levels?
In the question period that followed, the question of the accountability of priests and bishops in relation to the power/authority that they exercise, initiated a lively discussion!
Dinner is late by my standards, 8:00pm and tonight the after dinner speaker was the Most Rev’d Katherine Jefferts Schori. She identified such characteristics of leaders as courage and willingness to risk, creativity and playfulness, curiosity and hope, compassion and interconnectedness, being willing to dream and to see the big picture. When asked what was the hardest thing she had to do, she replied, “To remember that I am God’s beloved!”
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
July 9, 2008
July 9, 2008
The Archdeacon of Canterbury began the day with the Introduction “Was Eve framed?” She set her remarks in the context of her 30 years in ministry in the Church of England first as a Deaconess, then deacon and now priest and archdeacon. Those from countries other than
After lunch, a panel of Bishop Victoria Matthews, the Rev’d Dr. Katherine Grieb and the Rev’d Mother Anita Cook from the Sisters of the Church, spoke on the topic of vocation/ambition. +
The afternoon ended with the Eucharist in the village church celebrated by the Archdeacon of Oxford. After a wonderful dinner, it was hard to go back to work, but we did to hear a panel on Formation and Theological Education. Dr. Jenny Plane Te Pas from
The evening ended with the Bach Cello Suite played by one of the participants in the college chapel.
Monday, July 7, 2008
On the way
July 7, 2008
I am spending the day trying to wind up business in the office and not leave too many loose ends! Appointments to parishes are happening and will continue to happen by way of email technology.
Even at this point in time, material is still arriving for the Lambeth Conference, including books of 200 pages! I spent part of last evening putting all the papers in order for the three events - Women in Leadership Conference at Ripon College, Cuddesdon; Hereford Diocesan visit and preaching at their Cathedral July 13; the many Lambeth Conference documents. My day book seems to be getting just as full as regular days in the office.
More after I arrive in England.
Monday, June 30, 2008
getting ready
June 30, 2008
One week until I leave for England! The Women in Leadership Conference at Ripon College in Cuddesdon (near Oxford) begins July 8 and runs through July 11. Then I am transported to the Diocese of Hereford on the Welsh border until July 15. The Dioceses of the Church of England have undertaken to host the visiting bishops to give us a chance to see something about life in their dioceses. Then I travel to Kent and get settled in the residence where I will llive for the rest of the Lambeth Conference. The first event I will attend is a preparation session for the Bible STudy leaders as I will be one of the Bible Study Facilitators. The Gospel of John and the "I am" sayings will be the focus.
I am looking forward to meeting old friends and making new ones. I will be attending the gathering on the Misions to Seafarers around the world, the Inter Anglican Women's Network and a gathering about Theological Education as part of the so called "Fringe Events"!
One week until I leave for England! The Women in Leadership Conference at Ripon College in Cuddesdon (near Oxford) begins July 8 and runs through July 11. Then I am transported to the Diocese of Hereford on the Welsh border until July 15. The Dioceses of the Church of England have undertaken to host the visiting bishops to give us a chance to see something about life in their dioceses. Then I travel to Kent and get settled in the residence where I will llive for the rest of the Lambeth Conference. The first event I will attend is a preparation session for the Bible STudy leaders as I will be one of the Bible Study Facilitators. The Gospel of John and the "I am" sayings will be the focus.
I am looking forward to meeting old friends and making new ones. I will be attending the gathering on the Misions to Seafarers around the world, the Inter Anglican Women's Network and a gathering about Theological Education as part of the so called "Fringe Events"!
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