Year: 2008

One can take heart in the fact that some of the most ardent homophobes in the Communion feel that they are losing ground, yet the fact remains that the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Anglican Communion Office and the majority of the bishops at this conference want us to maintain our de facto ban on the consecration of partnered gay candidates to the episcopacy, and to ban either the authorization of rites of same sex blessings–it isn’t clear which.

Today, much talking about the talk, so to speak: How language challenges us. How we hear things, how we say things, and how to truly listen–and speak–when there’s so much noise. The Bishops are coming to the end of indabas and bible study with colleagues from around the world, and are feeling pangs of sadness at it being time to go, wonder at what has been accomplished (even if it hasn’t seemed like much to those outside).

Update with reactions The penultimate draft of the Reflections paper from the Lambeth Conference is now available on the conference web site. Section K on

“I think what we’re running into is a kind of difficult rubbing between the indaba process which has been in large measure very conversational, very relational” and the work of the WCG, which is “seeking to find structures and procedures whereby we can remain in communion with one another,” said Archbishop Hiltz. “How the two can interface for the well-being is a huge challenge at this moment.”

The bishops keep asking Western churches to sacrifice their desire to include GLBT people more fully in the Church. Who exactly do the bishops think is authorize to negotiate this sacrifice on behalf of gay and lesbian Christians? The primarily male, exclusively heterosexual delegations from the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church of Canada?

The hearings and indaba conversations have become more contentious in recent days, as some of the bishops push for a reaffirmation of Lambeth 1. 10. Conference organizers say it is highly unlikely that Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, will alter the conference agenda to permit any sort of vote, so those who want to produce such a statement may have to draft it and then seek signatures.