Lambeth Conference - From the Bishop of Ely
The Bishop of Ely has written a report about how he feels the Lambeth Conference went. For me, it summarises very well what I’ve been reading on various blogs throughout the Conference, and is very positive. I hope it’s okay for me to publish it in full here — it was posted to a public email list, so I’m hoping that means it’s in the public domain.
There are three paragraphs I particularly want to highlight:
There can be no doubt that, as a leading article in The Times recently said, ‘the Conference has gone far better than the Archbishop or even the most optimistic Anglicans could have imagined’. It was a remarkable and in many senses unexpected success. The Press, who arrived ready to file their obituaries of the Anglican Communion, found they were writing a very different story. It is clear that through the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the vision and spiritual stature of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Conference has been a considerable success, and that the Anglican Communion has made remarkable and unexpected progress.
I’m sure many of those participating were filled with trepidation about what might happen. But by working together; listening to each other; and, most importantly, listening to God; those fears were replaced by something quite amazing.
As the Conference proceeded, it was impossible not to be aware that we had the privilege of being present at a very significant occasion — an occasion at which it can truly be said that the Holy Spirit had led the Church through and around its difficulties into a new place.
God is still active today, sometimes even in the Church!
The Lambeth Conference has put new heart into the Anglican Communion, significantly raised its profile, and strengthened its internal structures. The widespread agreement of the moratoria indicates some change of direction in the thinking of many in the Communion.
I feel honoured to be a small part of the Anglican Communion. Our Bishops have been fantastic at this Lambeth Conference. I just hope and pray that the rifts, with those who felt unable to come this year, can be repaired as positively.
The full report by the Bishop of Ely follows:
Tags: Anglican, Bishop of Ely, Church, Lambeth
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