Archbishop Philip Freier says he will return to Melbourne from the Lambeth Conference with a far greater sense of the vitality of the Anglican Communion worldwide, which he describes as a “blessing to the world”.
“This has been an opportunity for sharing concerns about mission and evangelism, and reconsidering the needs of a hurting world,” he said at the conclusion of the ten yearly gathering of bishops from around the world. “This is the irony”, he said “that there is so much good to speak about but the focus is so often on the unresolved tensions in the Communion.”
Dr Freier observed that the ”˜Reflections Document’ from the Lambeth Conference represented the spectrum of opinions that had been raised but cautioned against looking at this document as the Church’s authoritative teaching. He thought that the three presidential addresses by the Archbishop of Canterbury were more indicative of where the communion stood on the matters that threatened to divide it. He says he will strongly urge the Anglican Church in Australia to commit itself to the Covenant process.
“As far as the Covenant is concerned, there is certainly more clarity required on some of the details. But I strongly believe that this is the best opportunity to build our unity and to strengthen co-operation across the communion in evangelism and works of mercy.”
ALL IS WELL (r) – nothing happening. Move along.
Say what?