September/October 1998 Volume 17, Numbers \ TR THE BI-MONTHLY MAGAZINE OF THE SOCIETY FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER Eualuation of Lambeth 98 THE LIVING PAST FOR THE PRESENT AND INTO T CONTENT C5 3. Reflections from the Editor's Desk: Lambeth '98 in Retrospect. 4. Archbishop Carey's personal evaluation of Lambeth '98. 5. The Opening Gala in Canterbury Cathedral: Graham Eglington reports. 6. Spong, Diversity and Common Belief: William Murchison reflects. 7. Luncheon for Bishops: the Joint Prayer Book Societies at the Chaucer Hotel. 8-9. The Anglican Communion - a map and guide. 10. The Sexuality Debate: Biblical Morality is embraced. 11. Scripture and the Reception of the Ordination of Women: common sense prevails. 12. Crossing Diocesan Boundaries: Bishop John of Rwanda. 13. Restoring the Anglican Way to America: a proposal. 14. "The Common Prayer" and "Common Worship" are not the same! 15. What's happened down under? A report by Fr. David Robarts from Australia. 16. Pentecost 1999 and the Common Prayer. What is the Prayer Book Society? First of all, what it is not: 1. It is not a historical society — though it does take history seriously. 2. It is not merely a preservation society — though it does seek to preserve what is good. \S 3. It is not merely a traditionalist society — though it does receive holy tradition gratefully. 4. It is not a reactionary society, existing only by opposing modem trends. 5. It is not a synod or council, organized as a church within the Church. In the second place, what it is: 1. It is composed of faithful Episcopalians who seek to keep alive in the Church the classic Common Prayer Tradition of the Anglican Way, which began within the Church of England in 1549. They wish to worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness and in a dignified and understandable English. 2. It claims that the Constitution of the Episcopal Church gives to rectors and parishes, as well as individual Episcopalians, the right to use the last genuine Book of Common Prayer in America, the 1928 BCP. 3. It is committed to educating and informing people of the nature and content of the Common Prayer Tradition, and its use for Holy Communion, the Daily Offices, Baptism, Funerals, family prayers and personal devotions. 4. It is involved (in cooperation with sister societies in Canada, Britain and Australia) in maintaining and teaching that Biblical Faith, Order and Morality to which the Common Prayer Tradition, along with the other Anglican Formularies, witness. 5. It seeks to do the above through lectures, seminars, publications, phone conversations, an internet web site and work in local churches. Its educational outreach is called the Cranmer-Seabury House of Studies. TO MAINTAIN THE ANGLICAN WAY SUPPORT THE PRAYER BOOK SOCIET\ Especially consider giving specific support to the Cranmer-Seabury House of Studies Send your gift to the Philadelphia P.O.Box. 35220 Philadelphia, PA 19128 Call 1-800-727-1928 for details. Editor: The Rev'd Dr Peter Toon MANDATE, Vol. 17. 5. is published six times a year by the Prayer Book Society, a non-profit organization serving the Church. All gifts to the P.B.S. are tax-deductable. Recipients of Mandate are encouraged to send a minimum gift of $28.00. Editorial and all other correspondence: P.O. Box 35220, Philadelphia Pa. 19128. Phone 1-800-PBS-1928. Postmaster: Please send address changes to The Prayer Book Society, P.O. Box 35220, Philadelphia, PA 19128. World-Wide Web address is http://www.episcopalian.org/pbsl928 MANDATE: September/October 1998 The Prayer Book Society of the Episcopal Church Reflections from the Editor's Desk * The Rev 'd Dr. Peter Toon LAMBETH '98 IN RETROSPECT ambeth '98 is over. It was a long conference especially for majority in North America have returned to their dioceses in order those of us who were there as journalists and as promoters to implement the resolutions and spirit of Lambeth '98. From inter­ Lof specific Anglican causes. Representatives of the Prayer views they gave to the press at the end ofthe Conference, it appears Book Societies (of Australia, America, Canada and England) sent that they think that they have greater "modem" experience and more daily reports via e-mail to supporters around the world, published "modem" enlightenment than their Asian and African colleagues, three editions of a newspaper, "The Anglican Way," hosted a recep­ whom they regard as still holding on to old, discarded views about tion for bishops at a Canterbury Hotel, attended all the press con­ God, Jesus, salvation and the Bible. ferences and open meetings for bishops and spent much time in Therefore, many American bishops apparently see themselves personal conversations with individual bishops. as the true pioneers of the Anglican religion of the future and they After the opening service in the glorious Cathedral at Canter­ seem to feel that they must continue to forge ahead following the bury, all the 780 bishops were involved in a daily Eucharist, daily "spirit" as they listen to the "word of god" in the culture and in the Bible study sessions and then in small work groups on various experience of marginalized people. Sol expect a more determined themes. So they were kept busy most of the time. Likewise their attempt to impose the new Episcopal, post 1960's religion on the spouses (600 or so were present) were kept fully occupied by an whole Church between now and the next General Convention. interesting and far ranging conference arranged by Mrs Carey. There The question which traditional believers are asking is this: Will were a few rest days, one of which was taken up with a trip to the minority of American bishops whose hearts are in the authen­ London to have tea with Queen Elizabeth II and the Prime Minis­ tic, biblical Anglican Way be prepared to walk boldly in that Way? ter, Tony Blair. If they intend to do so then clearly they must give to their flocks At the end of the three weeks, after the joint sessions of bish­ and supporters clear signs of their wholehearted commitment to ops had voted vote on reports and resolutions, Archbishop George the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and to His will for His Carey told us what he thought and felt about it all, and his com­ Church. Too often in the past they have said that they were waiting ments are printed on page 4. He is a kind, affable and generous for this or that event to occur before taking decisive action. Now person who desperately hopes that the Conference will not be re­ they have Lambeth '98 behind them. They know that they belong membered merely as the Conference which faced the issue of ho­ to the orthodox majority within the Anglican Communion. What mosexual practice. will they do? (See page 13 for my proposal concerning the future of the Anglican Way in America.) The American bishops Most of the American bishops were far from happy about the Lambeth 2008 way the Conference went. In particular, they were embarrassed by There was discussion of what kind of Conference should be Bishop Spong and his perceived racist remarks about Black Afri­ held in ten years time and whether it ought to be in another part of cans (for which he eventually published a part apology) as well as the world. Since the Anglican Communion is in general not grow­ by the votes against the direction of the Episcopal Church in the ing in the North and West but growing in the South and East, there areas of sexual relations and of the mandating the acceptance of the is the proposal that the place of meeting, the agenda and the way in ordination of women (see further pages 10 and 11). Traditional bish­ which business is conducted reflect the new make-up of the Com­ ops of the Episcopal Synod of America and American Anglican munion. Certainly bishops of the North and West, much experi­ Council remarked often on how good it felt to be part of the main­ enced in running church synods and conventions, had a great ad­ stream, rather than a despised minority. vantage in the debates at Lambeth '98 where African bishops espe­ In fact what stands out in my mind as I look back is the con­ cially were quite lost at times with the complexity of the rules and trast between the joyful, beaming and smiling faces ofthe majority the use of technical terms with which they were not familiar. of Africans and the sour, dejected and sorrowful faces of many North Further, there were calls to make the Anglican Consultative Americans. Faces do not tell the whole story but they indicate some Council more representative of the whole Communion and not merely of the story. At Lambeth '98 the revisionist and liberal bishops of a mirror of the North and West. Also a greater role for the arch­ the North or the West were a minority and they often felt uncom­ bishops and presiding bishops ofthe world-wide churches was called fortable amongst those for whom the Bible is the written Word of for in terms of unifying Anglican policy. If this occurs then the divi­ God and salvation includes a sense of joy in the Lord Jesus. sions between the North & West and the South & East will become But I think it is expecting too much to think that the liberal more apparent and may lead to a rupture of the Communion. T The Prayer Book Society of the Episcopal Church MANDATE: September/October 1998 3 RCHBISHOP CAREY'S ERSONAL EVALUATION F LAMBETH '98 the notes from which he spoke to a Press Conference on Friday 7 August) George Carey What has the Lambeth Conference achieved, he asked.