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.