The Lambeth Conference Design Group, meeting one last time to review last summer’s gathering of Anglican bishops, was unanimous in its assessment that the 2008 conference was an overwhelming success, says the Rev. Ian Douglas, the group’s only U.S.-based Episcopal Church member.
Underscoring the missiological focus of the July 16-August 3 Lambeth Conference, Douglas said that the design group’s work had been “led by the Holy Spirit” as its members “asked prayerfully what God wanted us to do ”¦ It gave the group a fortitude of spirit and confidence that sustained us throughout the planning.”
“The design group felt that the vision they had, along with that of the Archbishop of Canterbury, had played out well,” said Sue Parks, Lambeth Conference manager, who noted that the group was “very conscious of all the people around the communion who had held the Lambeth Conference in prayer and the prayerful way the bishops had approached the gathering.”
The design group, which has met regularly since February 2004, held its final meeting November 4-6 at the Anglican Communion Office in London to measure the effectiveness of the conference theme, “Equipping bishops for God’s mission,” assess whether the bishops’ identity as Anglicans had been strengthened, and to discuss the nature and worth of the Indaba process.
A rather biased view from those who have personal interests in such an rosey outcome.
I am hesitant to state such a thing after they give such glory to the Holy Spirit but I do not see the Holy Spirit working in the machinations of man as they do.
I am so willing to be wrong – I want to be wrong. But, alas, I doubt that I am.
Don
[blockquote]”The design group felt that the vision they had, along with that of the Archbishop of Canterbury, had played out well,”[/blockquote]
It’s hard to disagree with that. ++Rowan wanted nothing to come of Lambeth, and indeed nothing did. Not that it’s even minutely slowed the disintegration of the Communion or the persecution of the orthodox within TEO, mind you.
They have darned near killed the Communion…it is right they should be proud of themselves given that was their goal…and obviously William’s goal too.
Not to decide is to decide.
Luv, the ABC and the Design Group
They stand ALONE….
Intercessor
How did I know that they were led by the Holy Spirit, and that it follows therefore that everything they did was affirmed by God Himself? (He said sarcastically.) Do you suppose the the Holy Spirit is leading them in suing everyone under the sun? We all have good cause to view this with bitterness and resentment. Larry
[i] Please limit the sarcasm. [/i]
“Design Group Hails Lambeth Conference’s Success”
“Politburo Lauds Success of Party Congress”
[i] They have darned near killed the Communion…it is right they should be proud of themselves given that was their goal…and obviously William’s goal too. [/i]
I doubt that any members of the design group intended to kill the Anglican Communion, though they might as well have.
Revisionists like Ian Douglas and Kenneth Kearon want to get their way: e.g., to protect ECUSA and preserve revisionist ascendancy in international Anglican governance.
Similarly, Abp. Williams wants to avoid splitting the Church of England and to prevent the Global South from taking over effective leadership of the Anglican Communion. Keeping ECUSA in the communion serves both purposes.
We would be better off if Williams and the design group [i] had [/i] had intended to kill the communion. They would have less dangerous that way, less able to dupe or coopt theologically orthodox institutionalists.
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[i] In recognition of their dedicated work in planning the Lambeth Conference, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams awarded each member of the design group the Cross of St. Augustine. [/i]
What a complete barf-o-rama!
Because they are certainly fair and balanced and not biased at all. That’s about like taking President Bush’s word if he says he was the greatest president of all time.
They wanted to prevent any decisions and they did so. “Success” of a sort, if the institution rather than the Gospel is the important thing. Without the Gospel, however, the institution is crumbling anyhow.