The Bishop of Europe, the Rt Rev Geoffrey Rowell, said he would attend but could not take part in a Eucharist service held by the female head of the Episcopal Church of the USA, the Most Rev Katharine Jefferts Schori.
He added that he was “astonished” that so little information about events at Lambeth had been given out so far.
“We know the themes for each day and that we shall be in study groups of eight, but not much else.”
The Bishop of Blackburn, the Rt Rev Nicholas Reade, added: “I too am very surprised that we have had little more than a sketchy outline. I’ve never been to a conference before where we have had such little information.”
Read it all and do note the correct spelling of Martyn Minns’ name.
Well, not the [i]entire[/i] Nigerian province staying away. Cracks and unhappiness are appearing. According to Ruth Gledhill:
[i]”A Nigerian bishop has broken ranks to fly to Britain to attend next week’s Lambeth conference. More than a dozen other Nigerian bishops have telephoned the organisers privately to say that they wish they could come but dare not disobey their archbishop, who has ordered all his 100 bishops to stay away in protest at the liberalisation of the Western Church.
The Right Rev Cyril Okorocha, the Bishop of Owerri, will defy Dr Peter Akinola, the Nigerian primate, when he arrives at his host parish in Oxshott, Surrey, this weekend. He will be the only Nigerian bishop at the Lambeth conference when it opens on Wednesday.
A source close to the bishop, who used to be on the staff at Lambeth Palace, where he looked after mission, said that he was coming because he believed strongly in the unity of the Anglican Communion.”[/i]
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article4318938.ece
Also bear in mind that not [b]all[/b] bishops that are not attending Lambeth are doing so because of the boycott. Some would be there, but simply can’t be.
I know, I know secretly the Africans support the Western agenda, but are afraid of their “tribal leader” Akinola. What about all those who oppose what is going on in the TEC & the COFE but are afraid of the consequences? Please don’t think they don’t exist… How many bishops in TEC are closer to common cause than Integrity? They have been scared by the label “fundamentalist” or “homophobic.” The Church of Nigeria had a synod and it passed a resolution about Lambeth. Of course it is not uniform. No Province is. The vast majority support the boycott.
This may seem like a minor thing, but I believe the correct word usage would be unwilling not unable.
[blockquote]He added that he was “astonished” that so little information about events at Lambeth had been given out so far.
“We know the themes for each day and that we shall be in study groups of eight, but not much else.” [/blockquote]
Ironically, [i]how little[/i] we know speaks volumes.
No, unable is correct in this case. He may be “willing”, but the direction from God makes him “unable”.
1Corinthians 5:11–13: But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat. What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. Expel the wicked man from among you.”
Unable is still not correct. to make it correct you have to torture the word into a different meaning.
Even if I accepted that it was God’s direction not to go, that does not remove the capability, he chooses not to.
You may believe that is the right choice. I may disagree, but it is a choice; therefore, unwilling not unable.
I actually don’t mean it as judgement at all, despite being on the opposite “side” It’s just an incorrect usage of English. 🙂
Wow.
More than 1 in 4 not attending the LC.
Pretty incredible failure of the once a decade meeting of the Anglican Communion.
Sarah if you consider that 25% of those attending are Americans it becomes even worse
http://www.commoncause.wordpress.com
Commoncausepriest, Post8, Once Lambeth is in session, do you think figures will be available that enumerate how many Bishops are in attendance from each country?