The Archbishop of Canterbury has proposed suspending the Primates Meeting\u201d\u201dthe fourth \u201d\u02dcinstrument of unity\u2019 in the Anglican Communion\u201d\u201din favour of holding multiple small group gatherings of like minded archbishops.<\/p>\n
In a letter to the primates dated Oct 7, Dr. Rowan Williams suggested that given the \u201cnumber of difficult conversations\u201d\u009d and the threat of a boycott of its meetings, a regime of separate but equal facilitated small groups sessions might better serve the primates\u2019 \u201cdiverse\u201d\u009d perspectives and forestall the substantial \u201cdamage\u201d\u009d to the communion a full-fledged boycott would entail.<\/p>\n
Dr. Williams also called for a reform of the structure of the meetings, suggesting that an elected standing committee be created and the powers and responsibility of the meeting of the communion\u2019s 38 archbishops, presiding bishops and moderators be delineated.<\/p>\n
Lambeth Palace did not respond to a request for clarification about the Oct 7 letter, while a spokesman for the Anglican Consultative Council said it could not address the question of a potential boycott as \u201cthe content of correspondence between the Primates and the Archbishop of Canterbury is private.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n