Saturday, December 06, 2008

Compass Rose Society hears Archbishop of Canterbury review Communion's work, Lambeth Conference

From episcopallife.org:

December 03, 2008

[Compass Rose Society] Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams told the annual meeting of the Compass Rose Society (CRS) in November that the tensions within the Anglican Communion are not going to be resolved any time soon. "Deep wounds heal slowly," Williams told members of the CRS, which supports the ministries of the Archbishop of Canterbury by providing annual financial support and enhancing communication within the communion.

The Archbishop spoke at length about last summer's Lambeth Conference of bishops and viewed a "photo cinema" presentation of Lambeth images from the Anglican Communion Office's communications department. The Most Rev. Clive Handford, former primate of Jerusalem and the Middle East, and Bishop Victoria Matthews of Christchurch in the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia, offered an update of the work of the Windsor Continuation Group and matters relating to the Anglican covenant.

Holding its annual meeting in Canterbury, the society heard Williams review the year's events and pledged continuing support for his ministry throughout the communion. The group also attended a major fundraising event for the Canterbury Cathedral restoration appeal and heard its dean, the Very Rev. Robert Willis, speak about the cathedral's vision for the next decade.

Two long-serving staff members of the Anglican Communion Office were given honorary membership in the CRS -- Deirdre Martin, who served the office for 32 years, and the Rev. James M. Rosenthal, director of communications, whose work for 20 years has been a major focus of support from the society.

Following the meeting, 30 members of the society traveled to Cyprus with the Rev. Canon Kenneth Kearon, Anglican Communion secretary general, to visit the Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf and its bishop, the Rt. Rev. Michael Lewis.

Members learned about the Anglican ministry on the politically divided island where most of the population is either Eastern Orthodox or Muslim, and witnessed the diocese's gospel ministry among many on the margins of Cypriot society.

In addition to supplying financial support and mission visits, the Compass Rose Society has responded to the Archbishop of Canterbury's request to support theological education sending collections of 40 recommended textbooks to more than 30 seminaries throughout the communion.

The society's Canadian branch is funding the doctoral education of a priest from Rwanda who is studying pastoral theology, care and counseling.

Founded in 1997, CRS takes its name from the symbol of the Anglican Communion.

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