Press Releases16 Feb 04

Lambeth Commission tackles tensions in the Church

LAMBETH COMMISSION TACKLES TENSIONS IN THE CHURCH

The Lambeth Commission today expressed its sadness over the ?strident language? being used in the debate now besetting the Anglican Communion over the issues of openly gay clergy and same sex unions.

In a statement following its first full plenary meeting under the chairmanship of Archbishop Robin Eames, Primate of all Ireland, at St George?s House, Windsor, the Commission sets out its work-plan for the next few months.

Due to report to the Archbishop of Canterbury in September 2004, the Commission has organised small working groups to study and reflect on five key topics.

The subject areas are:

• issues of process in the Anglican Communion,


• the nature and purposes of communion,


• the obligations of communion,


• authority, and


• the role of the instruments of unity in preserving fellowship.

The Commission states: ?The Commission is saddened that tensions within the Communion, exacerbated by the use of strident language, have continued to rise in recent months. The Commission requests all members of the Anglican Communion to refrain from any precipitate action, or legal proceedings, which would further harm ?the bonds of communion? in the period whilst it completes its work. Mission and ministry, including prayer for unity, remain the priorities.?

The statement also says that the members of the Commission ?are united in their commitment to preserving the unity of the Anglican Communion, and to finding a way forward.?

The Commission last week heard various presentations from theologians including one from Dr Mary Tanner, former Moderator of the Faith and Order Commission of the World Council of Churches. A full record of presentations may be found on the Lambeth Commission website (address below).

The Commission has received submissions from around the world and further submissions should be sent to the Commission Secretary: Revd Canon Gregory Cameron, email: Commission Secretary

The Commission has adopted the title ?The Lambeth Commission? which recognises that it was set up following the Primates Meeting at Lambeth Palace, London, in October 2003.

The next meeting of the Lambeth Commission will be held in the USA in June 2004.

The full text of the Lambeth Commission?s statement may be found on the Commission?s website: http://www.anglicancommunion.org/commission/index.cfm

The Lambeth Commission met at St George?s House, Windsor from Monday 9 Feb to Friday, 13 Feb 2004. The meetings were private.

The members of the Commission are:

• Archbishop Robin Eames, Primate of All Ireland, Chairman
• The Revd Canon Alyson Barnett-Cowan, Director of Faith, Worship and Ministry, the 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
• 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
• Chancellor Rubie Nottage, Chancellor of the West Indies
• Bishop John Paterson, Primate of Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia, and Chairman 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.


• Canon John Rees, Legal Adviser to the Anglican Consultative Council (Legal Consultant)


• Canon Gregory K Cameron, Director of Ecumenical Affairs, Anglican Communion Office (Secretary)