Message
from the Bishops
May 23, 2007
Sisters and Brothers in Christ,Yesterday, invitations were issued to bishops for the 2008 Lambeth Conference, to be held in Canterbury next summer. As you know, the gathering brings bishops from the 38 provinces of the Anglican Communion together with ecumenical and other invited guests every 10 years. The 2008 conference will include nearly three weeks of shared retreat, common worship, study and discussion.
You may have heard that Bishop Gene Robinson did not receive an invitation at this time. While this is an issue of concern and much discussion among the bishops, we are not issuing any type of joint statement at present. Rather, we are following the guidance of our presiding bishop, Katharine Jefferts Schori, who issued a brief message to members of the House of Bishops yesterday, urging a calm approach to the announcement and reminding us that “it is possible that aspects of this matter may change in the next 14 months.” We will be discussing this in the weeks and months to come, and praying for a productive resolution that will be a message of our ongoing desire for inclusion and mutual dialogue in our communion.
We are reminded of the collect that is part of the ordination liturgy in The Book of Common Prayer:
O God of unchangeable power and eternal light: Look favorably on your whole Church, that wonderful and sacred mystery; by the effectual working of your providence, carry out in tranquility the plan of salvation; let the whole world see and know that things which were cast down are being raised up, and things which had grown old are being made new, and that all things are being brought to their perfection by him through whom all things were made, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Yours in Christ,
/s/
M. Thomas Shaw, SSJE
Bud Cederholm
Gayle E. Harris
Please see today’s Episcopal News Service coverage at Episcopal Life Online, which contains links to the Archbishop of Canterbury’s letter and related documents: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_86240_ENG_HTM.htm