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By Jim Coggins
ANGLICANS were divided on whether the 2008 Lambeth
Conference had fostered a sense of unity or deepened an existing schism,
following the conclusion of the event – which brings together
Anglican bishops from around the world every 10 years.
Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, nominal head
of the 77 million member worldwide Anglican Communion, said the conference
had produced “wide agreement” on how to proceed with
controversies that are currently affecting the church, such as the blessing
of same-sex unions.
“We may not have put an end to our problems; but
the pieces are on the board,” said Williams in a formal address at
the conclusion of the July 16 – August 3 meeting at the
University of Kent.
However, said Don Harvey, “Division has already
taken place.” Harvey is a bishop with the Anglican Network in Canada,
which has split from the Anglican Church of Canada and aligned itself with
Anglicans from Africa and South America.
“What do you need to see happen before you say we
are divided?” Harvey asked, noting that while some 600 bishops had
been present at Lambeth, over a quarter of all Anglican bishops –
more than 200 – had boycotted the conference.
The worldwide Anglican Communion has indeed been deeply
divided for several years. The key reasons are the American Episcopal
Church’s ordination of openly homosexual bishop Gene Robinson in
2003; and the 2002 vote by Canada’s Diocese of New Westminster,
in favour of blessing same-sex unions.
A majority of the primates who lead the 38 national
Anglican bodies, particularly those from the Global South, have protested.
The prime issue, they say, is not homosexuality – but, rather, the
authority of scripture.
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As a result, a number of parishes in Canada and the
U.S. have chosen to disaffiliate from their national Anglican bodies, and
have come under the authority of some of these other primates..
Archbishop Williams said his optimism was based on the
“broad support” he saw at Lambeth 2008 for the report of the
Windsor Continuation Group (WCG). While Lambeth discussed the WCG report,
no formal action was taken on it. The proposal will be further revised in
September, and will be presented for discussion to the primates when they
meet early next year– and to the Anglican Consultative Council,
which meets in Jamaica in May 2009.
In June, more than 200 bishops who boycotted the
Lambeth Conference attended the Global Anglican Futures Conference (GAFCON)
in Jerusalem instead. They set up their own structure for accountability,
called the Primates’ Council. The GAFCON leaders are planning to meet
later this month to discuss their formal response to Lambeth.
September 2008
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