On the opening night Williams said the 14th Lambeth Conference would not settle the disputes dividing the Anglican Communion, but an effort must be made to keep the conversation going to preserve the integrity of the church.<\/p>\n
He hoped the conference would eschew a political solution to the theological divisions within the church and focus on \u201cbuilding relationships.\u201d\u009d While this would not settle the disputes of doctrine and discipline \u201cit is certain that without the building of relationships the challenges will never be resolved,” Williams said, according to bishops present at the opening session.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t have great expectations\u201d\u009d for Lambeth, Bishop Robert Duncan of Pittsburgh said. It was important to give voice to the views of evangelicals and Anglo-Catholics marginalized by the dominant liberal wing of the Episcopal Church, and he welcomed the opportunity for \u201cstrengthening the bonds of relationship\u201d\u009d with bishops from the developing world. However, he was \u201cdeeply saddened\u201d\u009d that the gap between left and right now seemed unbridgeable.<\/p>\n
The pleas for dialogue at this stage rang false, Bishop Venables said. \u201cAlthough much has been said about talking, it seems to me that on one is listening,\u201d\u009d he said. \u201cI\u2019m on the telephone,\u201d\u009d but \u201cno one has called me to say \u201d\u02dclet\u2019s talk\u2019 this over,\u201d\u009d Bishop Venables said.<\/p>\n