Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Today was the first full day of the Lambeth Conference per se, and for me, it was a less than auspicious beginning. Following the morning Eucharist and breakfast we had our Bible Study, as usual (our group was joined today by a Bishop from the Russian Orthodox Church, who seems, on first acquaintance, a great addition).
Then we went to the first Indaba meeting, in which the members of five Bible Study groups came together in a large room. Our group had 43 or 44 members. During the first session, about fifteen people introduced themselves and their Dioceses: the non-English speaking Bishops (through interpreters), and the Ecumenical guests, as well as three or four other Bishops. The only American included in that introduction was Jon Bruno from Los Angeles, who spoke glowingly of his being a “totally inclusive” Diocese that has approximately a 20% membership of gay and lesbian people, and in a state that has opened the door to same-sex marriages, “that we are trying to come to grips with.”
We were then asked to answer three questions: 1) what major thought or insight did you come away from the retreat with? 2) how does your Diocese see itself? 3) what does being an Anglican Bishop mean to you? (They were looking for “convergences” here. What we came up with was: “The Bishop is a leader in mission.” Pretty profound, huh?)
In the afternoon session we were given a two page paper entitled “The Anglican Way: Signposts on a common Journey” (produced by the Anglican Way Consultation meeting in Singapore in 2007), that suggests the Anglican Way is: “Formed by Scripture; Shaped through Worship; Ordered for Communion; and Directed by God’s Mission.”
During the break, a picture of each of these signposts had been taped up, one on each of the four walls. We were asked to gather around each of the four pictures in succession, while someone read that section of the paper to us. Then we were asked to “self select” and divide into four groups, each to discuss one of the four sections/Signposts.
My group had thirteen in it, seven of whom spoke. It was difficult to hear because there were three other conversations going on in the same room simultaneously. The statement itself wasn’t bad. If you care to read it you will find it here.
But the process was asinine. First of all, why combine five Bible Study groups, if you are then going to sub-divide them into four groups? Secondly, what is the point of this discussion of a document we are seeing for the first time? It seemed more appropriate to a junior high Confirmation Class than to a world-wide gathering of Anglican Bishops. And thirdly, why in the world were we having these conversations in the same room at the same time? (At a cost of approximately $8 million just for the Bishops’ part of the Conference!)
Well, things may improve. I remind myself of the Archbishop’s comment that, “A failure in leadership is a failure to hope in Christ.”
An hour long gathering of the American Bishops in mid-afternoon was equally disappointing. Presiding Bishop Schori called us together “just to check in with each other and share any concerns.” Fully two-thirds of our time was spent discussing Gene Robinson’s sadness – and the injustice! – over his not being allowed to be part even of this meeting of “his own House.”
(Conference organizers responded to objections that: “This is NOT a meeting of the House of Bishops; it is a gathering of American Bishops at a meeting of the Lambeth Conference, and only those invited to the Conference can be part of the gathering.”)
There was talk of possibly organizing another meeting of the American Bishops offsite somewhere so Gene can be part of it.
The day was not a complete loss! The Archbishop put on the first of three special dinners for the first third of our Conference attendees tonight, and I happened to draw an invitation to it. Quite lovely; he and Lady Jane are very gracious hosts.
But please do pray that we will make better use of our time from here on out. I am sending you as an attached file the Archbishop’s Presidential Address from last night. It sets out his hopes for what this Conference might yet produce.
Also, please pray for my wife, Karen. She told me she has finally been cleared for the surgery on her parathyroids that I mentioned to you last Spring. Only one clinic in the world does this particular procedure, and it happens to be in Tampa. The Doctor there assures her this will make a very significant improvement in her over-all condition.
Warmest regards in our Lord,
–(The Right Rev.) John W. Howe is Bishop of Central Florida
A pretty mean spirited report. The good bishop doesn’t appear to have taken the opportunity to contribute anything himself, or to make any constructive contribution, before scuttling off to post jeers home.
When 2/3 of the time that the Americans met was occupied by bemoaning the absence of Hew Hampshire, just how much space do you think there was for +Howe to say anything of substance? How do you make a constructive criticism of this sort of project?
“The process was asinine”. +Howe was bending over backwards to be charitable. Let’s hear a mighty, “Indaba, daba DOO!!”
How banal andtime-wasting this sounds. The bishop had the right word for it – asinine. Treating adults like children – as with the incredible “how to listen” notes they were apparently given too. It’s hard not to predict already the final “reflection.”
Bp Howe, there are lots of places do minimally invasive parathyroid surgery (I do them myself.) I looked at the web page by Dr James Norman. His practice is unique in that it only does parathryoid surgery. The procedure is not hard and complication rate is low. Dr. Norman’s complication is essentially zero. I am sure your wife will do fine.
#1
Have you ever been a participant in any sort of meeting where the agenda is so set as to prevent substantive input potentially contrary to the will and belief of the organizers? Opportunities for constructive input or complaint in such cases are usually prevented at every turn. Do you have some insider insights into the meetings of which we mere bloggers are unaware? If so, please share them.
While direct in its language, Bp. Howe’s assessment appears on balance to be an apt observation of the proceedings.
Bishop Howe–You have made your bed so clearly with TEC, now I’m afraid it’s going to be an iffy sleep. It will be like the Red Roof Inn, which can be okay, but can be fairly bad. And the stairwells are often not real clean.
Gator from near Gainesville
Bishop Howe’s frustration is more than understandable. But sometimes the most valuable part of a conference is the opportunity to talk informally with others. Maybe he can spend some time with the Russian Orthodox bishop …
It’s as I suspected and shared days ago when I heard that this venue was for all the “voices to be heard”….
…the braying of asses IS deafening.
…sounds like a amateurish setting that a good host would never foist on guests.
I wonder how Badman #1 would want Bp Howe to put a positive spin on it?
“After being divided, regrouped, divided again…someone struck up a fiddle, and we all square danced.”
“After being divided, regrouped, divided again…we did some jumping jacks and sit-ups. Great exercise!”
“After being divided, regrouped, divided again…someone produced a soccer ball, and we scrimmaged!”
I think that Laura R’s (#8) suggestion sounds like a good one.
[i]”A failure in leadership is a failure to hope in Christ.”[/i]
What, precisely, does this mean?
This is a refreshingly blunt letter.
#11 I’m wondering the same thing
I’ve just discovered that an applicable quote given to me by an old boss is spuriously attributed to Petronius Arbiter. It seems to source to a Harper’s Magazine article from 1957:
http://www.quotationspage.com/quote/25618.html
“We trained hard, but it seemed that every time we were beginning to form up into teams we would be reorganized. Presumably the plans for our employment were being changed. I was to learn later in life that, perhaps because we are so good at organizing, we tend as a nation to meet any new situation by reorganizing; and a wonderful method it can be for creating the illusion of progress while producing confusion, inefficiency, and demoralization.”
Yes, I once did go to a “meeting” where nothing was supposed to happen. About 10 years ago, our small church was ate up with controversey, coming almost to blows about one thing or another.
When Bp. Salmon heard about it, he sent (and paid for) some professional fellow to come in and hold some kind of “Confrontational/Reconciliation” session.
The building was packed, and he began to speak.. After a while, we began to get the drift. In other words, do not talk about what the trouble is or what is NOT working, or what one is angry about. Speak only of what WE can all agree on and do TOGETHER.
Finally, we all gave up, and listened to him drone on. He earned his pay I guess, because in the end, we finally all agreed we needed a “mission statement” for the church, that would solve all the problems. There was no follow-up!
I never told this story before, but I probably should have, maybe the Bishop could get his money back. The church is closed, and FOR SALE…
Gloria
“A failure in leadership is a failure to hope in Christ.â€
verb: to abdicate
Lambeth is ripe for a Dilbert treatment.
Bishop Howe fails to notice the progress being made here. Specifically, TEC is one day closer to sealing its heresies in stone and returning to America to wage an unholy war on reasserters.
Yes, #12, [i]refreshingly[/i] blunt it is. “The process was asinine.” The process IS asinine! This is the same reaction I have had, and have heard from many government research scientists, over more than 10 years as I’ve seen this process applied to the problem of attempting to manage responsible professional adults – ‘herding cats’, some might call it – and it’s refreshing that Bishop Howe sees it for what it is, and calls it as he sees it.
The set up here is what one often gets when dealing with elementary school teachers. The participants are treated as if they are really not too bright, and that all endeavors must use in small words. And for those who wonder, I have been part of elementary teacher training sessions – alas. (But that’s another story of the institutionalizing of ineptitude.) With intelligent adults, it is much better to make a small group, and put the matter to them: Ok, NOW how are we going to get out of this mess.” Let them make the rules and then put the ball in play. Larry
You just have to love this: How long ago did the self-absenting provinces announce their intentions. (Answer – when the the CAPA agreement come out.)
From Bp Howe’s letter, it is becoming very obvious that they were correct in their decision.
The liberals are blaming the orthodox for the schism facing the Communion (really that the Communion already faces). Now, they are [url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jul/22/anglicanism.religion ]blaming the orthodox[/url] for the budget shortfall:
[blockquote]The boycott may have also contributed to a £1m deficit in the Lambeth finances. The costs for the main conference are £4.4m, excluding travel, and £1.2m, excluding travel, for the spouses event. The 230 bishops, were they present, would have easily covered the shortfall.[/blockquote]
So that’s why they’re so sorry the Africans aren’t there! Follow the money.
Given the kindergarten procedures of the first day as described here, they made an excellent choice. Why waste money to be present for this nonsense? I don’t like being manipulated. How long will the bishops put up with this? I wouldn’t sit still for two weeks of this for anything.
After reflecting overnight, I am with Gator #7 above. The ACI-ers (which includes +John Howe who is on their board) have defended Rowan Williams to the point where their own integrity is compromised. Rowan in the recent press conference addressed the “indaba” format, which +Howe is now enjoying, by stating the previous parliamentary styled meetings were not effective.
Great Britain’s great gift to the world is parliamentary styled goverment which it established in commonwealth countries across the globe.
It is interesting that Rowan states that parliamentary styled debate as ineffective when he, himself, is the the main cause for the lack of efficacy. He gives such tepid support for Lambeth 1.10: “I believe that Lambeth 1.10 is the agreed mind of the communion”, etc. He has made it abundantly clear that he is personally against it. But early on Rowan found he could not openly defy it with the Jeffrey John affair. So instead, Rowan has simply worked to avoid consequences of those that do defy Lambeth 1.10. The DeS communique was affirmed unanimously, but Rowan stated its deadline is no deadline. His early invitations removed all impetus for the Americans to take it seriously.
There is an essay that is a must read/review: [url=http://hillsofthenorth.blogspot.com/2008/05/trashing-of-parliamentary-procedure.html ]The Trashing of Parliamentary Procedure[/url]. In particular, the hills-of-the-north writes,
[blockquote]”We have listened carefully to those who have expressed their difficulties with Western and parliamentary styles of meeting,” he [Rowan] writes, before announcing he is chucking parliamentary procedure for “indaba” meetings–groups that are preselected and designed to preclude any decisions from being made. In short, he is taking from Lambeth any semblance of democracy, because the result might be inconvenient.[/blockquote]
and he also points out
[blockquote]Note that the Archbishop doesn’t say who are those who have expressed these difficulties. Almost certainly they are not the Majority World bishops, many of whom are from Commonwealth countries that cherish the parliamentary tradition they received from Britain.[/blockquote]
Unfortunately, Bp Howe is enjoying his chosen bed.
Most bishops giving reports on Lambeth are not giving a review at all. As we know, TEC bishops have been told and instructed how to stay on their message of inclusions and the new vision of the Gospel they have raised up. At least Bishop Howe is being honest about his experience at Lambeth. Maybe he is again facing the ultimate reality of what is happening in the EC and the AC. Sometimes he seems to forget or is getting bad advise from those who advise him.
While I am confused by Bishop Howe’s decision and about face actions, I appreciate his frankness and pray it continues.
“The process was asinine.” Diogenes has shown up at Lambeth. It won’t be long before his lantern is extinguished.
While I have been very critical of the theological compromises that I have seen +Howe make to remain loyal and faithful (whatever that means these days) to both TEC and the AC, still, I empathize with his plight here. He has put his trust in the process and deliberations of Anglicanism, a church founded in a reformation through a pragmatic English Common Sense, and noted for its reasoned deliberation, and he now finds that he is contesting not with well articulated heresy but with imbecility. Not only have the principles of Hooker’s Right Reason been rejected but the very process of reasoning is abandoned.
I am reminded of Lewis’s Parelandra in which the heroe, Ransom, contests with the tempter in the form of Weston. Weston begins with rational arguments, based on flawed premises but rational in their presentation nonetheless, but soon he abandons argument and tries to wear Ransom down with mindless jabbering until ransom realizes that he must fight Weston through brute physical struggle.
Satan may appear as an angel of light, exemplified in Milton’s “glorious” Lucifer, but the truth of the matter is that evil is bereft of intelligence, beauty, of all sense and of anything that is good. Evil is a yawning chasm of emptiness, of non-being, non-reasoning. +Howe has come to the central court of Anglicanism and is beginning to see that it has not only begun to lose its way, its faith. It has begun to lose its mind as well.
Gene’ll no doubt be pleased. The black hole effect is certainly attested in the American bishop grouping. Does anything else matter? Apparently not to the cell phone groupies and their processing the process.
These meetings sound strikingly familiar. My 6 year old went to three of them this summer. Only the meetings he went to were called “Vacation Bible School”, not Indaba groups. I wonder if the bishops will get to use fingerpaint. 🙂