From AnglicansUnited.com:
July 25, 2008
by Cherie Wetzel, reporting from Canterbury, England
It has been beehive of activity here since I wrote to you last. On Wednesday evening, Anglican-Mainstream had their reception for orthodox bishops and had 70 Bishops and a few wives in attendance, 10 press and staff from Anglican Mainstream.
After a Bible study on the book of Jude by Bishop Wallace Benn, President of the Church of England Evangelical Council (CEEC), we heard from the various bishops who cared to speak. Since the press had been invited, we were asked to stand, introduce ourselves and promise that we would not identify any bishop present or attribute what they said. All the press did so.
Then the fun began. How is the conference? Worrisome.
How is your indaba group? “Well, the funny thing is,” began one bishop, “The Americans here have this cheat sheet that they use in our group. It has statements on it that justify their decisions in the last two conventions that led to the consecration of Gene Robinson and same-sex marriage. It is a prioritized list of talking points and the one in our group reads off this thing every day.”
It was as if someone dropped a bomb in the room. Was I surprised that my church would utilize a tactic of this nature to persuade the rest of the Communion? No, I was not. Was I surprised that one of those same bishops would bring the document and read from it in a forum such as the Indaba group? No, I was not. Was I surprised by the strong counter reaction of the other bishops in the room, who considered this to be almost treachery? Yes.
So, while we were in London yesterday for the Walk of Witness, conceived by the Micah Challenge UK and nearly high jacked by the TEC promotion of the Millennium Development Goals project sponsored by the United Nations, much research was going on back in Canterbury on this story.
This morning in the Guardian, a very liberal newspaper in the UK, Riazat Butt had a Lambeth Diary story that told of this paper and its utilization. Read over breakfast after Communion at our dorm, the piece received acclaim because this young report is Moslem and has admonished those in the press that we joined the wrong religion.
Given a few minutes on the Internet I found a story by Ruth Gledhill, intrepid reporter from the London Times, whose pieces I frequently use on the website. Her story is equally revealing. Titled, “Rival Strategies Revealed,” the story gave links to the document in .pdf format.
First thing this morning, I emailed the press folks from TEC and asked for confirmation that this document does exist and then requested a copy of the document. Neva Rae Fox, who is part of the Presiding Bishop’s office responded that the document does exist and that we can discuss it later in the press room. OK, no copy.
Ruth Gledhill also has a paper issued by the Anglican Communion Institute, written by the Rev. Dr. Phil Turner called, “TEC’s THEOLOGICAL AGENDA AND TEC’S STRATEGY FOR THE LAMBETH CONFERENCE OF BISHOPS.” Dr. Turner’s paper continues, “…The memo is revealing for several reasons. (1) It is an obvious attempt to give uniform shape and content to the contribution TEC’s bishops have to make; (2) it reveals what TEC’s leadership intends the outcome of the conference to be; and (3) displays what the theology is that lies behind the uniform position TEC’s leadership hopes to establish as that of the Communion as a whole.
“It is revealing that the introduction to the memo states that a method of communication is being proposed that “will provide the media with no more “than they want or can use.” It is manifestly also a method designed to keep a large group of people “on message” so that TEC’s bishops will remain on the same page. It is manifest also that the memo signals a hardened position on the part of TEC’s Episcopal leadership that runs counter to the spirit the Archbishop of Canterbury has asked to guide the bishops in their deliberations—a spirit of mutual subjection in Christ that is open to correction.
“From the outset it is important to note that the central purpose of the memo (to keep TEC’s bishops on message) runs in a completely contrary direction to that of its central theological message--one that, as will become clear, amounts not to a call to unity but to a celebration of diversity. The controlling idea of the memo is that the American bishops ought to arrive at Lambeth with a single “core message” that does not in fact reflect on their own part the diversity they call for in others.
“This uniform message is to be presented using three supporting points comprised of references to scripture, statistics, and anecdotes drawn either from personal experience or from one’s community or congregation. It is a message intended to establish the right of TEC to go its own way in defiance of the requests of all the Communion’s Instruments of Communion….”
This paper can be found at http://timescolumns.typepad.com/gledhill/2008/07/lambeth-diary-r.html
I think Dr. Turner’s analysis says it all. As a body, the Episcopal Church is not to be congratulated for coming here with a primary political agenda of convincing the rest of the Communion and utilizing the talking point concept that any political campaign issues on a daily basis, geared to that day’s audience.
The Archbishop of Canterbury started this Lambeth with a three day retreat of five separate sessions so that all were encouraged to come and clean up your heart, mind and spirit and get in sync with Abba, Father. He has a word for us and our job is to discern it together. We have 21 days together to do this.
The Archbishop’s planning and preparation were antithetical to this conference being a political shouting match with resolutions and position papers that created winners and losers. Even the adoption of the Indaba process, which is not getting high marks yet, works against easy statement of a problem and a quick fix determination.
I would stress to add that not all of our bishops are using this paper and not all are dim enough to bring it to their indaba group and read aloud from it. Some have actually come with the intention of cooperating with the Archbishop, listening to their fellow bishops and then begging God to speak clearly and concisely to each and every one here.
Lets pray today that the rest of the American bishops, who came to cozy up and persuade will abandon that agenda and get with the process outlined here. We have ten days left. Frankly, in a marathon conference of this length, it is not mid-point yet. Yesterday’s diversion in London was fun; but business as usual returned at 6:30 AM today.
At the last Lambeth Conference, the vast majority of bishops, led by the Presiding Bishop and his wife, went to Paris for the first weekend. This year, we know that is not happening – of if so, not being led by the Presiding Bishop. She is hosting a gathering tomorrow evening for bishops from other provinces. I know this because the invitation specifies that cocktails will be served and this alarmed the Sudanese bishops I spoke with. They don’t drink and nearly refuse to be in the room with those who are drinking. I encouraged them to go any way, drink water and state as clearly as they can, face to face, what they believe to be true about the full inclusion of gays and lesbians around the Communion.
I am convinced that this is what will make a difference. When our bishops hear what Biblically orthodox people in TEC have heard from the lips of bishops from other parts of the world, they may be challenged to re-think their position. They were convinced of the “righteousness” of homosexuality by listening to homosexuals. Let us pray that they will be convinced of the essential stand by the rest of the Communion on this issue by hearing other voices, much more diverse than the ones they have heard to date.
Cherie Wetzel, reporting from Canterbury, England
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Philippians 4:6-8 KJV
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