Anglican Communion bishops from 22 dioceses in the United States and 29 dioceses in Africa joined the congregation of Madrid’s Iglesia Episcopal de España for a Eucharist on July 22. Joining the Rt. Rev. Carlos Lozano Lopez, bishop of the Reformed Episcopal Church of Spain, at the altar were the primates of Burundi, Central Africa, Congo, and Southern Africa, as well as the primate of Brazil, according to a press release from Trinity Church, New York City published by Episcopal News Service.
Following a reception, the visitors made a stop at the Museo del Prado, before returning to El Escorial where the “Walking to Emmaus, Discovering New Mission Perspectives in Changing Times” consultation continues through Thursday, July 26. The consultation is being convened by New York’s Trinity Church, Wall Street, as an opportunity for bishops of the Anglican Provinces in Africa and their companions in the Episcopal Church of the United States to strengthen relationships, develop mission partnerships, and discover new opportunities to bear witness to the Gospel.
The Rev. Canon James Callaway, deputy for faith formation and development at Trinity Church, said: “The consultation is offering partners in faith and mission a communal space to further existing partnerships and find commonalities on which to build new relationships. This week, as bishops share their hopes and vision for mission as Anglicans in today’s world, we look forward to a stronger communion committed to providing important resources to those in need around the world.”
The Trinity Church website has more resources on the consultation and will have video postcards from Spain later this week.
Site editor Nathan Brockman discusses theology of mission with Ian Douglas, Angus Dun Professor of Mission and World Christianity at the Episcopal Divinity School.
NB: What is the theology of Mission?
ID: In the early 19th century, mission was understood as “missions” — outposts of the Western Church in some far-flung place. As Christian witness became more incarnated on six continents, there has been a movement from the church’s missions, to the mission of the Church, and now to the mission of God or missio Dei.
NB: The success of the 19th-century missions has something to do with the current conflict over human sexuality in the Anglican Communion, correct?
ID: Oh, absolutely. But I don’t see it necessarily as a conflict.
NB: Why not?
ID: Well, there are indeed conflicts with respect to the particular differences over human sexuality. But the real question has to do with the plurality cultural contexts in which Anglicanism is now located. I tend to see our present situation as the logical outgrowth of the work of the Holy Spirit. The Anglican Communion is moving from a historically mono-cultural, Christian experience of a North Atlantic Alliance, to a radically multi-cultural, diverse family of churches.
More discussion here