From Anglican Mainstream:
July 30th, 2008 Posted in Lambeth Conference |
KEY POINTS
11 In his Presidential Address, Archbishop Rowan set this fourteenth Lambeth Conference in the context of previous gatherings and urged the bishops present towards the fullest possible participation in every aspect of the agenda. His call for transformed relationships are about more than having warm feelings towards one another, but about ‘new habits of respect, patience and understanding that are fleshed out in specific ways and changed habits’. He noted the weaknesses of understanding our life together as simply a loosely federated group of provincial churches while at the same time recognising the discernable dangers of a centralised and homogenous Communion that would inveitably lead us to ecoming a confessional church contrary to our historic identity. It is the archbishop’s urging that a middle way between these extremes be captured in a generous Anglican covenant. ‘Whatever the popular perception, the options before us are not irreparable schism or forced assimilation’.
18(a) Formed by Scripture: As Anglicans we acknowledge the joy of engaging with the scriptures in setting for the authentic proclamation of God’s Word. We are attentive to scripture in our worship, prayer and study, seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit, so that scripture may shape and form us. We believe the scriptures to be primary, but read them informed by tradition and reason and with regard for the cultural context. We value the place of biblical scholarship as a critical tool to unpack the scriptures, and this leads inevitably to divergent interpretations across our many and varied contexts. The overarching issue with which we wrestle is the interpretation of the Bible in our ongoing life.
(b) Shaped by Worship
(c) Ordered for communion: There is a strong desire to stay in communion with one another… There is concern caused by a perceived lack of restraint and self-limitation, by impaired communion and by intervention across provinces. There is some lack of confidence in the ‘Instruments of Communion (8) as the means of achieving this and a particular concern about the role of the Primates’ Meeting.
There is a strong view that the way forward lies cheifly through deepening
· Person to person relationships
· Diocesan partnerships
· Reviving our sense of belonging and mutual affection.
(d) Directed by God’s mission:… Mission is the total action of God in Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit – creating, redeeming, sanctifying – for the sake of the whole world. Evangelism is giving voice to the truth of God’s mission to all people.
We believe that loving service, prophetic witness and a respectful evangelism that speaks of the uniqueness of Christ belong together.
SECTION C: Evangelism
20 Evangelism is the cutting edge of mission in the proclamation of the Good News of Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour by word and deed. Evangelism is the life blood of the Church and involves mediating by proclamation, by word, and by action the good news of God’s love in Christ which transforms the whole of life.
25 Inter/Other Faiths dialogue was identified as a priority concern in some areas and to a lesser extent in others. The level of engagement was determined by the demographic distribution of Christians in the population vis-à-vis other faiths. Overtures for dialogue was more in evidence among those religious faiths that find themselves in a minority situation.
26 Migrants, Refugees and displaced People
27 Responses to Decline
28 Responses to Emergencies
29 Economic viability
30 Growth
31 Christian Values – it was observed that the cultural values of post-modern societies challenge the teachings of Christianity, which is decidedly counter-cultural.
32 HIV and AIDS and other pandemics
33 Provincial Contribution
Education and Training
Resources Facilitation
Structural and Organizational Concerns
Programmatic concerns
34 Communion Contribution: There was a focus on the need for changes at the level of the Communion in order to facilitate the unity and more effective co-ordination and exercise of mission at the provincial, diocesan and congregational levels.
Co-Ordinating Functions:
Be the centre of unity and provide the overarching symbols and resources which are translated into local contexts;
Be a centre for the sharing of experiences, policies, resources, covering the various aspects of mission;
Provide appropriate focus, training, education in core theological areas and leadership in the exercise of mission as these relate to such areas as interfaith relationships, the identification of financial resources, and ecumenical partnerships;
Improve communication through the use of technology such as the website and other media, and create multimedia resources for use in the dioceses (e.g. DVDS of Lambeth Conference, an introduction to Anglican Christianity, and an Anglican ‘State of the Communion’ address by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Education and Training
Be a centre for the development of new and creative ideas and resources concerning mission and sharing these with the various dioceses.
Help to train bishops to be Anglicans in mission through global initiatives.
Structural and Organizational
Provide ecclesial authority that interprets what is Anglicanism;
Provide clarification on the nature of the Communion whether it consists of independent denominations or independent provinces;
Support those who are isolated in their dioceses by initiatives such as that by Gafcon;
Programmatic/Missions concerns
Make support for the Millennium Development Goals and support for HIV/AIDS ministry a primary focus;
Promote the exchange of quality clergy (and bishops) around the Communion for experience and context learning;
35 The development of a Lambeth Directory or inter-provincial website that would allow the sharing of theological thinking, mission ideas; partnerships etc. The Communion must recognise the individual Provinces as self-determining Provinces that walk together for strength.
…The Communion could prepare a Bishop’s Introductory Pack which would provide information about what resources and information are available throughout the Communion, including contacts, networks, commissions, etc. The current cycle of Lambeth meetings every 10 years is deemed inadequate. Perhaps there could be a meeting of a representative group every 3 years.
SECTION D: Social Justice
SECTION E: Ecumenism
SECTION F: Environment
One group discussed environment and human sexuality.
SECTION G: Inter-Faith
· Situations and the potential for inter-faith dialogue vary around the world. There are many instances where Christians are a minority in our world. We recognise that our fractured Communion is impairing witness in many of these settings.
· In some situations, Christianity is faced with hostility and even persecution which makes dialogue difficult, if not impossible.
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