Ruth Gledhill–Lambeth Diary: Rowan begs, 'Choose Life'

Incredibly powerful address from Rowan Williams to bishops at Lambeth tonight….

Check out the picture.

Posted in * Anglican - Episcopal, Archbishop of Canterbury, Lambeth 2008

8 comments on “Ruth Gledhill–Lambeth Diary: Rowan begs, 'Choose Life'

  1. DonGander says:

    “..a Covenant that recognizes the need to grow towards each other..”

    Am I too exclusive to have the conviction that, as a christian, our duty is to grow toward Jesus Christ, and that this will be the only thing that alows us to grow closer together?

    But I am no Archbishop.

    Don

  2. dwstroudmd+ says:

    The ECUSA/TEC/GCC/EO-PAC has chosen and they have their talking points to prove it. The ACCanada has chosen and they have Mikey Ingham announcing it. To whom is the ABC talking? Or rather, past whom is anyone talking this sort of blather at this stage? And by the by, the ECUSA/TEC/GCC/EO-PAC has chosen death over life in other issues as well: http://www.rcrc.org/about/members.cfm

  3. Barrdu says:

    “And by this I meant, first, that we needed a bit more of a structure in our international affairs to be able to give clear guidance on what would and would not be a grave and lasting divisive course of action by a local church.”

    Oh,my gosh! I thought the primates DID clear guidance on what would be a grave and lasting divisive course before VGR was consecrated.

    “Can you find some way of being generous that helps us believe you care about us and about the common language and belief of the Church? Can you — in plain words — step back and let us think and pray about these things without giving us the impression that the debate is over and we’ve lost and that doesn’t matter to you?”

    Why, oh why, ABC did you not say this to the TEC in New Orleans?

    “At Dar-es-Salaam, the primates tried to find a way of inviting different groups to take a step forward simultaneously towards each other. It didn’t happen, and each group was content to blame the other.”

    BULL! It didn’t happen because you foiled it.

    I love this speech, but he’s got to accept some personal responsibility for HIS failures, not the least of which is the way too late timing of it.

  4. Harry Edmon says:

    Interesting headline “Choose life”. See Deut 30:11-20.

  5. Dan Crawford says:

    It would have sounded even better had he spoken his words in Welsh. As it is, it’s all the same english blah, blah, blah, and blip.

  6. Branford says:

    As I commented over at Ruth Gledhill’s blog:

    But doesn’t the Archbishop know – The Episcopal Church has already chosen death – specifically its official membership in the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Rights – a pro-abortion group that supports partial birth abortion and that regards the fetus as the enemy. If they have chosen death there, it is no surprise that they will chose death in the Communion. The “agenda” trumps all.

  7. Betty See says:

    [blockquote]”We need to speak life to each other; and that means change”[/blockquote]
    It is ironic the Archbishop of Canterbury should ask that we “speak life”, he seems to be completely unaware of the many things that are driving Christians away from the Episcopal Church.
    The Episcopal Church has made it clear to any who ask and particularly to Bishop Duncan Gray that they do not intend to choose life or even “speak” about it.
    http://new.kendallharmon.net/wp-content/uploads/index.php/t19/article/3678
    There might be hope that TEC would “speak life” if NOEL (a right to life organization) was still part of TEC but their life in TEC was short lived.

  8. GSP98 says:

    Why, Harry Edmon-you stole my thunder! [God bless you, brother].
    Almighty God also asks us to ‘Choose life’, indeed, as we read in Deut 30:11-20. But I’m afraid that the way the LORD asks people to choose life is not imploring, as one poster put it, “Cant we all just get along?” But rather: “11 Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. 12 It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, “Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” 13 Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, “Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” 14 No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.
    15 See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. 16 For I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.

    17 But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, 18 I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess.

    19 This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now CHOOSE LIFE, so that you and your children may live 20 and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” (Deut. 30:11-20, NIV)