Doing the Lambeth Walk Part 7
Wednesday, 30 July
Where are we now?
When our kids were young, and we set off on long car journeys, one of the favourite, and constant questions from the back seat, was ‘Where are we now?' . The other was ‘Will we be there soon?' These, I must confess, are the kind of questions I am asking at the moment at the Lambeth Conference. Of course, the answers from parents on a car journey can at some stages be hard to give: especially in the days before Sat Nav, when we ourselves may not have been sure where we were going. At other stages, they can be given but not understood (‘Ballycomebackwards' - ‘Where's that, dad?). What I would like to know at this point in the conference is: What is the road map, and where exactly is our destination intended to be?
Reading two comments by bishops, and hearing from another has focused some of the issues I am facing at the moment. One bishop has noted that we are a group of people who are used to being in control, and who find ourselves out of control at the moment - and for our Lordships, this is a difficult and challenging feeling. So, I might learn something about my need to be in control. ‘Amen', say some! Another bishop has suggested that Rowan Williams is taking an almost ‘papal' role for his one critical moment in what is a crisis situation. If so, it may work or it may be a risky strategy. The third bishop, a leading Western (but not American) liberal with whom I had breakfast yesterday, assured me that it was best that we came to no conclusions, as it leaves things more open. We are beginning to recognise that everyone likes a vote when they are sure they can win it, and no vote if they are likely to fail to convince.
So, at the moment it feels like being in a pea-souper without a compass, and I'm wondering who has the privilege of holding a compass, and where they want us to go to! If you would like to pray, please pray that, in this uncertain time, the Lord would reveal his hand.
Reflections from Canterbury
Last night, after evening prayer, the Archbishop gave a rather impressive address. I am nothing less than amazed at how quickly he can think, and how he can produce material at the drop of a hat. Sometimes, the words can be hard to follow, but last night they were crystal clear. Rowan took the risk (and it is a risk) of describing to the two major ‘camps' what he felt the other would wish to say. That is dangerous, because it is so easy to get it wrong, but I think he got it pretty right, and the effect of that is that both the ‘conservatives' and ‘liberals' will feel that he can understand and describe their position, and do so with a real sense of respect. Anyone involved in marriage counselling will know what an important skill that is. It lays a wonderful foundation. But we must move to a further stage of clarity, and I'm sure the ABC knows that. We need to find a way forward, and quickly.
Pastoral Forum
One of the suggestions given by the Windsor Continuation Group has been a ‘Pastoral Forum' which would engage theologically and practically with areas of controversy. There is a realization that something must be in place in the gap between now and the proposed covenant. This idea has been around in many forms over the years, and under different names. The ‘President' of the forum would be the Archbishop of Canterbury, and it would offer ‘pastoral advice and guidelines in conflicted, confused and fragile situations'. It also might be a kind of ‘holding place' for ‘ad hoc jurisdictions' (where alternative oversight has been requested) until the situation may be resolved. It all sounds fine, but can it be made to work, and is it too little, too late.....?
The report of the Windsor Continuation Group attempted something we have often attempted in Northern Ireland: clarity of language. Mind you, I'm not at all sure that the attempt has been successful. It goes something like this: a moratorium means a cessation of activity (did we ever think otherwise?). Some North American dioceses have interpreted it as meaning that new dioceses or parishes should not have authorization to conduct same-sex blessings.... But it is a moratorium on authorizing rites of same-sex blessings, and we all know that the word ‘authorize' is the loophole: non-authorized rites abound, even recommended by bishops!
Speakers and Events
We continue to be truly blessed by wonderful speakers from other Christian traditions. Last night I was invited to the Nikean Club dinner (set up on the 1600th anniversary of the Council of Nicea in 1925 to promote ecumenism), and heard an after dinner speech by Cardinal Walter Kasper, President of the Pontifical Council of the Roman Catholic Church for Promoting Christian Unity. I intend to go to a seminar by him later today to hear the views of the Roman Catholic Church on the present situation in the Anglican Communion. Then, on Monday night, we had a brilliant address by Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sachs on the Covenant in Judaism. It was a wonderfully insightful address, and made me realize that we can actually receive very powerful expositions of the scriptures from Jewish people, which enables us to understand our faith better.
Thought for the Day
We have been reading through St John's Gospel during our time here, and one thing has particularly struck me: in that Gospel so many difficult situations (blindness, lack of wine at a wedding, even the death of Lazarus) are allowed by God, so that his glory is revealed. Please pray that the intractable situation here may lead to a surprising revelation of the glory of God.
+Harold
TO VIEW BISHOP HAROLD'S EARLIER REPORTS FROM LAMBETH GO TO THE NEWS/EVENTS PAGE (SEE TOP OF THIS PAGE). WHEN NEWS/EVENTS PAGES OPENS CLICK ON ‘OLDER NEWS ITEMS'ON THE MENU ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE.Photographs: ' © Lambeth Conference '