The LambethDaily ISSUE No.12 TUESDAY AUGUST 4 1998 OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE 1998 LAMBETH CONFERENCE TODAY’S KEY EVENTS 7.15am Eucharist Seeing through Roadside robbery 9.30 - 11.00am Morning Prayer and Bible Studies Artist’s passion 11.30 - 12.30 & 3.00 - 4.00pm Spouses’Workshops -Mission & Evangelism (2), -Creative delays bishop 11.30 - 1.00pm Sections for the poor children’s eyes 3.30 - 5.30pm Plenary Session 5.45pm Evening Prayer Page 3 7.30pm Spouses’: Susan Howatch:‘Harassed Heroines and Healing Centres Page 4 Page 4 8.30 pm Market Place: Multicultural Musical Celebration Bishops play a round: Winners take back nine...by one Conference will debate first resolutions today Bishop Ian Brackley (Guildford-Dorking, England) and teammates Jack Cherry, James Crossley and David Wykes were winners at Canterbury Golf Club on Sunday, scoring 86 points-including 42 on the Bid to set up commission back nine. Countbacks beset Bishop Gethin Hughes (San Diego, US) and teammates, who also scored 86, but with 41 on back nine, and Bishop Neville Chamberlain (Brechin, Scotland) and teammates, Photos: Anglican World/Harriet Long on ecumenical relations who scored 86 as well, with 40 on the back nine. The Archbishop of Canterbury conferred awards, including top honours to the winning team, which was sponsored by the Kent Messenger newspaper. by Allan Reeder in the week ahead with depth and ON THE GREEN: Bishop Benjamin Mangar Mamur (Yirol, Sudan) prepares to putt as Bishop Gethin alls for a new international sensitivity.“It’s easy to go for shal- Hughes (San Diego, US), right, and Bishop Michael Hough (Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea) stand by. CAnglican commission on ecu- low stories of various disagree- menical relations will be among the ments,” he said. first issues up for debate today as He also stressed that the Confer- the bishops move into the business ence is not fundamentally a legisla- end of the Conference. tive assembly,and that the draft res- After two weeks of key address- olutions are subject to change. es from leading experts and closed- “They are not carved in stone; they door group work, the bishops are in plasticine,” he said. begin a week of intense public ple- Most of the 108 draft resolutions nary or business sessions in which to be put to the Conference will they will debate the proposed reso- not be debated, the chair of the lutions. Conference Resolutions Commit- Differing cultural approaches to tee, Bishop Michael Nuttall (Natal, making decisions may complicate South Africa), told journalists. the plenary discussions, Archbishop “The vast majority of the reso- Robin Eames (Armagh, Northern lutions are on the agreed list” to be Ireland) told a press conference yes- approved formally by the Confer- terday. ence, Bishop Nuttall said. If 50 “Some have come convinced bishops believe a draft resolution that their way of doing business is currently on the “agreed list” is the right way,” Archbishop Eames contentious, they can ask that it be said. “In some areas we will find debated.“A maximum of 30 (reso- agreement, and it won’t surprise lutions) will be debated,” he said. you that in some areas we will not Procedures for dealing with res- find agreement.” olutions were drafted by the St Archbishop Eames also issued a Augustine seminar in May last year, strong challenge to the 60-strong which laid out plans for the Con- contingent of reporters from the ference, and are designed to facili- world’s media to cover the debate Please see Relations page 4 Episcopal visitors accommodate traditionalists Surveying the section reports by David Skidmore In addition to proposing resolutions for debate and assent in this en years ago the possibility of week’s plenary sessions, the Lambeth Conference’s four Sections Twomen in the episcopate was a yesterday released reports of work in their respective areas of study. contentious issue for the Lambeth Highlights from the reports are conveyed here as follows. Conference and the Anglican Communion. Since then a majori- people; and indigenous peoples. ty of the Communion’s 37 SECTION ONE It challenges the Church to be a provinces have admitted women to model community,a moral community the priesthood, and women have Diverse themes shape and a learning community; and to been elected bishops in three encourage the establishment of peace- provinces. ethical behaviour making agencies to promote reconcilia- Predictions by Conference plan- by Margaret Rodgers tion and justice, most particularly for ners that women’s ordination women and children. would prove “a non-issue” this he diverse themes of Section One The Environment: Creation is an act summer have proven true. Except Tare linked because they cover areas of Divine love,though it is disordered as for a brief flare-up in the press over that Anglicans must reflect on in form- humans experience it. A great chal- threats by traditionalist bishops to Left to right: David Thomas, John Broadhurst, John Richards, John Scott Gaisford, Edwin Barnes ing their ethical and moral beliefs and lenge and opportunity confronts the protest at the presence of 11 Photo: Anglican World/David Skidmore their consequent actions. Church.There is an urgent need for the women bishops, the issue of any Bible study groups where sen (Maine, US), who led the Human Rights and Human Digni- Church to reflect on scripture and women’s ordination has barely women bishops are present. His prayers of intercession– did not sit ty: Section One lists immediate world- Christian tradition in the light of the crossed the horizon. concern is that any discussion well with Bishop Jones who labeled wide concerns under eight broad head- ecological crisis and to effectively However, for some bishops the would be polarised and would it “tokenism at its worst.” ings: the widening gap between rich engage with the pursuit of a more sus- issue remains very much alive. “muddy the waters” of his theolo- One resolution touching on and poor; the violation of women and tainable life. Bishop Noel Jones (Sodor and gy. women’s ordination will go before children; the effect of the global econo- Biblical insights provide a firm foun- Man) chose to stay out of the offi- The participation of a woman the bishops this week, but its focus my; war, guns and landmines; racial and dation for a contemporary ecology- cial Conference photograph bishop in the Conference’s opening is on protecting all views on caste discrimination; fundamentalism theology. The Sabbath must be reinvig- because of the presence of female service on July 18 in Canterbury women’s ordination, rather than on and nationalism; refugee migration, asy- orated as a feast of redemption and an bishops. He has also stayed clear of Cathedral–Bishop Chilton Knud- Please see Bishops page 3 lum seekers and uprooted and displaced Please see Sections page 2 2 The LambethDaily TUESDAY AUGUST 4 1998 Sections Continued from page 1 technological developments, to reflect one to whom apostolic authority is relations, urges that men be supported on them theologically and ethically,and given.” The missionary bishop’s “pri- in renewing their parental and family anticipation of the ecological harmony to keep bishops and other leaders mary ministry is as servant- commitments, and calls for the gifts of and sustainable equilibrium of Christ’s informed of new developments. leader...working and living out with the girls and women to be upheld in fami- Kingdom. Euthanasia: Five principles must be baptised what it means to be a holy ly,work and ministry. Human Sexuality: Human sexuality, kept in constructive tension in this dis- people in [that] place and time.” It also calls Christians to an “appro- gift of a loving God, is to be honoured cussion. priate simplicity” of living that enables and cherished by all people. Human Life is God-given;humans are in rela- Photo: Killough 111 World/William Anglican SECTION THREE responsible stewardship of resources; sexuality is intended by God to find its tionship with the created order; while encourages them to engage in dialogue rightful and full expression between a flawed by sin they have the capacity to Call to unity has with at least one other faith, and to man and woman in the covenant of make free and responsible moral choices; affirm the principle and practice of reli- marriage, understood to be a life-long, purpose and meaning are found in rela- ‘fresh urgency’ gious freedom. monogamous and unconditional com- tionship with God;and this life is not the Room at the cross: Conference chapel welcomes by Katie Sherrod mitment, yet singleness and dedicated sum total of human existence. visitors for prayer and meditation from 6.15am SECTION FOUR celibacy are Christ-like ways of living. Euthanasia is the act by which one to 10.15 daily in the campus Senate House, ection Three’s report says the call for Some persons experience them- person intentionally causes or assists in where large cross above serves as focal point for all God’s diverse people to be held reflection. S Report upholds concern selves as having a homosexual orienta- causing the death of another who is ter- in unity is heard with fresh urgency tion. They are loved by God, and all minally or seriously ill in order to end today because of the opposing forces of for ‘visible unity’ baptised, believing and faithful persons, the other’s pain and suffering. lenges: First, “God is working in the fragmentation and globalisation. by Randall Lee regardless of sexual orientation, are full Proper decisions must be made to world today quite beyond the limits of Each has positive and negative members of the Body of Christ.