The Lambeth Commission on Communion
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The Lambeth Commission on Communion The Lambeth Commission on Communion was established by the Archbishop of Canterbury in October 2003, following the special Primates' Meeting called that month in Lambeth Palace to discuss developments in the Anglican Episcopal churches of North America, which were of a controversial nature. These pages set out the work of the Commission, their mandate, members, and submissions received The Commission reported to the Archbishop of Canterbury in October 2004, and issued its findings in the Windsor Report 2004. Mandate The Archbishop of Canterbury requests the Commission: 1. to examine and report to him by 30th September 2004, in preparation for the ensuing meetings of the Primates and the Anglican Consultative Council, on the legal and theological implications flowing from the decisions of the Episcopal Church (USA) to appoint a priest in a committed same sex relationship as one of its bishops, and of the Diocese of New Westminster to authorise services for use in connection with same sex unions, and specifically on the canonical understandings of communion, impaired and broken communion, and the ways in which provinces of the Anglican Communion may relate to one another in situations where the ecclesiastical authorities of one province feel unable to maintain the fullness of communion with another part of the Anglican Communion 2. within their report, to include practical recommendations (including reflection on emerging patterns of provision for episcopal oversight for those Anglicans within a particular jurisdiction, where full communion within a province is under threat) for maintaining the highest degree of communion that may be possible in the circumstances resulting from these decisions, both within and between the churches of the Anglican Communion 3. thereafter, as soon as practicable, and with particular reference to the issues raised in Section IV of the Report of the Lambeth Conference 1998, to make recommendations to the Primates and the Anglican Consultative Council, as to the exceptional circumstances and conditions under which, and the means by which, it would be appropriate for the Archbishop of Canterbury to exercise an extraordinary ministry of episcope (pastoral oversight), support and reconciliation with regard to the internal affairs of a province other than his own for the sake of maintaining communion with the said province and between the said province and the rest of the Anglican Communion 4. in its deliberations, to take due account of the work already undertaken on issues of communion by the Lambeth Conferences of 1988 and 1998, as well as the views expressed by the Primates of the Anglican Communion in the communiqués and pastoral letters arising from their meetings since 2000. Membership • Archbishop Robin Eames, Primate of All Ireland, Chairman • The Revd Canon Alyson Barnett-Cowan, Director of Faith, Worship and Ministry, Anglican Church of Canada • Bishop David Beetge, Dean of the Church of the Province of Southern Africa • Professor Norman Doe, Director of the Centre for Law and Religion, Cardiff University, Wales, • Bishop Mark Dyer, Director of Spiritual Formation, Virginia Theological Seminary, USA • Archbishop Drexel Gomez, Primate of the West Indies • Archbishop Josiah Iduwo-Fearon, Archbishop of Kaduna, the Anglican Church of Nigeria • The Revd Dorothy Lau, Director of the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council • Ms Anne McGavin, Advocate, formerly Legal Adviser to the College of Bishops of the Scottish Episcopal Church Ms McGavin resigned for personal reasons after the first meeting of the Commission. • Archbishop Bernard Malango, Primate of Central Africa • Dr Esther Mombo, Academic Dean of St Paul's United Theological Seminary, Limuru, Kenya • Archbishop Barry Morgan, Primate of Wales Archbishop Morgan was unable to be present at the first meeting of the Commission. • Chancellor Rubie Nottage, Chancellor of the West Indies Mrs Nottage was unable to be present at the second meeting of the Commission. • Bishop John Paterson, Bishop of Auckland, and Chair of the Anglican Consultative Council • Dr Jenny Te Paa, Principal of College of Saint John the Evangelist, Auckland, New Zealand • Bishop James Terom, Moderator, the Church of North India • Bishop N Thomas Wright, Bishop of Durham, the Church of England. Staff • The Revd Canon Gregory Cameron, Director of Ecumenical Affairs and Studies, Anglican Communion Office, Secretary to the Commission • The Revd Canon John Rees, Legal Adviser to the Anglican Consultative Council, Legal Consultant to the Commission Administrative Assistants • The Revd Terrie Robinson, Anglican Communion Office • Mrs Christine Codner, Anglican Communion Office Media • The Revd Brian Parker, Church of Ireland Press Office Documents For ease of use the documents section has been divided into three sections. Please click on the relevant section to go to those pages • Background & Supporting Documentation • Submissions to the Commission • Related articles and links Background & Supporting Documentation Background Documentation ACNS 3633 - A Statement by the Primates of the Anglican Communion view meeting in Lambeth Palace, 15-16 October, 2003 ACNS 3450 - The Pastoral Letter from the May 2003 Primates' Meeting in view Gramado, Brazil ACNS 2959 - Report from the April 2002 Primates' Meeting in Canterbury, view England ACNS 2410 - Pastoral Letter and Call to Prayer from the March 2001 view Primates Meeting in Kanuga, North Carolina, USA ACNS 2094 - Final Communiqué from the Primates Meeting, Portugal, view March 2000 Virginia Report 1996 view Statement issued on behalf of “the Primates of the Global South” view by Archbishop Peter Akinola, November 3rd, 2003 Statement of fourteen Anglican Primates of the Global South view Supporting Documentation Notes on presentation by Stephen Sykes Download Given to initial meeting of the Lambeth Commission, February 2004 Some Legal and Constitutional Considerations Download Paper by John Rees, submitted to the Primates Meeting, October 2003 Communion and Autonomy in Anglicanism: Nature and Maintenance Download Paper by Norman Doe Commissioning Commissions: a context for the work of the ABCC and IATDC? Download Paper by Philip Thomas Common Law: a fifth instrument of unity? Download Paper by Philip Thomas Ears to Hear?: why the Eames group will not be debating homosexuality Download Paper by Philip Thomas On Being Excommunicated: what does it mean to 'break off' communion? Download Paper by Philip Thomas Tuning up the Instruments of Unity: structures for Anglican decision- making Download Paper by Philip Thomas Decision-making Process in the communion of the Church Download Paper by Mary Tanner The Journey Forward Together: Reflections on Matthew 5:13-36 Download Paper Lynlea Rodger What is the Anglican Communion for? Download Paper by Chris Sugden Reflections offered to the Primates of the Anglican Communion Download from Inter-Anglican Theological and Doctrinal Commission Anglican Conciliarity: History, Theology and Practice Download Paper by Paul Avis Background Information Related to the Decision of the Diocese of New Westminster (Anglican Church of Canada) to Authorize the Download Blessing of Same Sex Unions Diocese of New Westminster Letter from the Presiding Bishop of ECUSA to the chairman of the Lambeth Commission (6 February 2004) Download from Frank Griswold Rite of Commissioning Download St George's House, Windsor, 9 February 2004 A Charge from Archbishop Rowan Williams Download Petition from Anglican Mainstream in support of the Network Download Human Sexuality: A Statement by the Anglican Bishops of Canada - 1997 Download Other Documents being considered that are not available online Grindrod Report, Women and the Episcopate, Parts B & C, 1987 To Mend the Net, Anglican Faith and Order for Renewed Mission, Gomez and Sinclair, Ekklesia Society, 2001 Claiming our Anglican Identity, Anglican Communion Institute, 2003 Submissions to the Commission Submissions Listed in Alphabetical Order Submission from the Executive Committee of Affirming Catholicism Download From North American Secretariat of Affirming Anglican Catholicism Download Submission from the Anglican Communion Institute View by Dr. Andrew Goddard Submission from the members of the Anglican Communion Institute (ACI) Download entitled 'Communion and Discipline' Submission from Tim Bradshaw View Submission from " Changing Attitude," the Lesbian and Gay Clergy Consultation and the Church of England View General Synod Human Sexuality Group Submission from The Church of England Evangelical Council (CEEC) Download Submission from 'Drawing the Line' View prepared by several bishops and theologians Submission from Fulcrum: Report Download Submission from Fulcrum: Appendix Download Submission from the Global South Consultation in Nassau Download 'Called to Witness and Fellowship' Submission from the Inter-Anglican Theological Doctrinal Download Commission (IATDC) Submission from the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement (LGCM) View Submission from the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement (LGCM) Download Submission from the Modern Churchpeople's Union Download Submission from the Central Trustees of the Worldwide Mothers' View Union Submission from Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane (CPSA) View 'The Life of the Anglican Communion: A way ahead', June 2004 Overview of submissions to the Lambeth Commission from groups and individuals received between 12 June and 3 View September 2004 Submission from Mary Reath View Résumé of submissions by individuals