Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Some of you have heard about the significant and distressing difficulty facing our Bishops regarding the Lambeth Conference. As I said last Sunday, please pray for everyone involved, for the Episcopal Church and for the entire Anglican Communion.
I want you to know what is happening, so you can be informed and also know how best to pray.
The Lambeth Conference happens approximately every ten years. Bishops from the worldwide Anglican Communion gather in England with the Archbishop of Canterbury and fellow-bishops to pray, study the Scriptures, share conversations about the situations in their churches, and to look at ways to work together for the life and mission of the Church in the world around them.
The Lambeth Conference is NOT a governing body. It is NOT the same as our General Convention. There may be recommendations and even “mind of the body” resolutions coming out of the Conference, but it has no legal standing on the individual churches’ functioning. In other words, after study, prayer, conversation, and discernment, the Bishops of The Episcopal Church can choose not to accept what comes out of Lambeth.
At the end of last week, the Archbishop of Canterbury sent a document out to all the bishops planning to attend Lambeth with topics for study and discussion. Bishops were informed they would be expected to vote either to affirm 10 “calls” or to indicate they were not prepared to make a decision and needed further study. There was no mechanism for voting NO (disagreement). Voting on something, as though on legislation, is not something that has been part of the Lambeth Conference ever before.
Among the “calls”, was a brief one that claims it is the mind of the Anglican Communion that Christian marriage is only between one man and one woman, and that same-sex marriage is not a faithful Anglican practice. Clearly, it is NOT the mind of the Communion and there are many churches which strongly oppose what basically offers human dignity to only some people rather than to all people. Within hours, there were statements from bishops around the world and the US protesting the inclusion of this and the requirement that they affirm it. You can see a number of the Bishops’ statements on my personal FaceBook page if you wish to read more. https://www.facebook.com/BecketsDaughter/
Both Bishop Kevin and the Presiding Bishop have made their feelings known with clarity and firmness. And I include them here.
From Bishop Kevin
Dear Beloved of Bethlehem,
As you know, Bishops within the Anglican Communion are gathering for the Lambeth Conference in Canterbury from July 26, 2022 thru August 8, 2022.
To aid in our preparation, all bishops received a Lambeth Calls Study Guide, which includes ten ‘Calls’ to be addressed by members within the Communion. Under the Human Dignity Call are provisions that call on bishops to reaffirm resolution 1.10 from Lambeth 1998. These provisions include the following statements:
“It is the mind of the Anglican Communion as a whole that same-gender marriage is not permissible” (I.10, 1998).
“Legitimizing or blessing of same sex unions cannot be advised” (I.10, 1998).
It is the mind of the Communion to uphold “faithfulness in marriage between a man and a woman in lifelong union” (I.10, 1998).
Needless to say, this is creating deep concern among our siblings in Christ who are in same-gender unions, as well as for those of us who believe our Baptismal Covenant when we say that we will strive for justice and peace among all people and respect the dignity of every human being (BCP 304-5).
Be assured that in the Episcopal Diocese of Bethlehem, we shall stand in word and deed with our siblings who are in same-gender relationships. We will continue to honor our shared creation in the image of God, because God is a God of all people.
This was evident at our recent General Convention in Baltimore where the Episcopal Church passed several resolutions, speaking to the full inclusion and protection of LGBTQ+ persons in the life of The Episcopal Church and the world. There is still much work to do and with God’s help, we will meet the challenge.
Therefore, the Episcopal Diocese of Bethlehem will continue to move forward with becoming a community where each person can live in promise, dignity, and wholeness.
Know of my continued care and love,
Bishop Kevin
From the Presiding Bishop:
While this situation is rapidly changing, I want to assure all Episcopalians that the House of Bishops will be meeting Wednesday in Canterbury to discern its way forward before the Lambeth Conference begins.
For now, I offer this message of love to all my LGBTQ+ siblings:
We have worked hard to become a church where, as the old African slaves used to sing, “There is plenty good room, plenty good room,” for all of God’s children. We are all The Episcopal Church, and we will not compromise who we are, our connections, or our love. We head to this conference with you in our hearts and Jesus’ Way of Love as our guide.
Because of the huge outcry and many protests, the Archbishop of Canterbury has added a “NO” option to the offending “call”. It now reads: “This Call does not speak for me. I do not add my voice to this call.”
As a faithful Episcopalian and, I hope, a Christian, I am deeply offended by a statement that can only wound and further marginalize our LGBTQ+ brothers and sisters. For many years, they have been told that they are unworthy and sinful. Can you even imagine what it must feel like to be told that who you ARE is not good? Society has struggled to move away from that destructive attitude. And the Episcopal Church has repeatedly affirmed, both in language and in practice, with ordination and marriage rites, the dignity of ALL people, and their access to the sacraments. To hear this destructive message again, and from the very highest levels of the Anglican Communion, is very hurtful. As a person who daily experiences God’s enfolding care and love, it angers me that any church body should try to tell people they are not worthy of the same blessings I am. The God whom I worship speaks of love, welcome and acceptance.
I encourage you to pray fervently for the bishops meeting in Lambeth. And for the opening of hearts to the movement of the Spirit. I ask you to pray, too, for our LGBTQ+ brothers and sisters who may be feeling that the church is once again excluding and judging them.
Joy to you all as we all continue to worship and serve together!
Mo. Laura+
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