Speaking without a script, Archbishop Williams described the city\u2019s history in the life of the church, and touched upon some of the theological controversies of the past, alluding to the relevance of the Arian controversy in the present day. Christians should pursue stillness, quietness and diversity, he said, and not be quick to condemn those who hold opposing theological views. He urged the primates, and the congregation, to extend Christian charity to those with whom they disagree.<\/p>\n
A question that has yet to be answered to the satisfaction of all the primates is what they hope to achieve in Alexandria. The Rev. Canon Kenneth Kearon, general secretary of the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC), said the primates have come at the invitation of Archbishop Williams to \u201creview the work of the Lambeth Conference\u201d\u00a6explore issues of common interest, [and] prepare for the gathering of the ACC\u201d\u009d in Jamaica in May.<\/p>\n
The contrast in visions between an activist primates\u2019 meeting as envisioned by the 1988 and 1998 Lambeth Conferences and supported by a majority of primates, and an indaba-oriented meeting of discussion, where all points of view hold equal weight and no decisions are taken, may make Alexandria the last united primates\u2019 meeting. None of the primates have threatened to boycott future gatherings, but archbishops on both theological sides share similar frustration with the current environment because \u201cno one is listening anymore,\u201d\u009d one primate said.<\/p>\n