Lambeth resolutions have acquired an influence at times “so close to authority as hardly to be distinguishable from it,” according to Cambridge University historian Owen Chadwick in his introduction to Resolutions of the Twelve Lambeth Conferences.
Lambeth resolutions have acquired an influence at times “so close to authority as hardly to be distinguishable from it,” according to Cambridge University historian Owen Chadwick in his introduction to Resolutions of the Twelve Lambeth Conferences.
Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateral, anyone?
That quote, BTW, is, IMHO, quintessentially Anglican.
Not all Lambeth resolutions are equal, however. Those from the global north are more equal than others and those from the global south with 80%+ favorable votes may be ignored at pleasure. This authority is most useful for neocolonialists and imperialists.
He also writes:
“It was impossible that the leaders of the Anglican Communion should meet every ten years and not start to gather respect; and to gather respect is slowly to gather influence, and influence is on the road to authority.”
Sadly, even mutual respect was lacking at the 1998 Lambeth Conference (which was held after Chadwick wrote) and rebuilding that is part of the task now being addressed at the 2008 Conference. The absence of so many is in itself a sign of disrespect, to put it no more harshly.