General Synod 2007: IN PLENARY

Welcome to the next article of IN PLENARY, a feature that we hope will help Anglicans to appreciate and understand the complex issues that will be before General Synod in June, and also allow you to comment on those issues and to converse with other Anglicans from across the country.

Response to the Windsor Report

In 2003, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams established the Lambeth Commission on Communion to advise him and the churches of the Anglican Communion on how they could maintain “the highest degree of communion that may be possible” in light of actions by The Episcopal Church (US) and the diocese of New Westminster in Canada, and of some primates and bishops who intervened in the affairs of some parishes. The result was the publication of The Windsor Report in Oct., 2004.

General Synod 2007: IN PLENARY

Welcome to the next article of IN PLENARY, a feature that we hope will help Anglicans to appreciate and understand the complex issues that will be before General Synod in June, and also allow you to comment on those issues and to converse with other Anglicans from across the country.

Vision and principles of communications

The following document was prepared by General Synod’s Communications and Information Resources Committee and endorsed at its meeting in February. The document is being forwarded to the Council of General Synod with a request that it also adopt the document as the basis for the communication practices and policy of General Synod and that it commend it to the church at all levels.

Reflections on the Primates’ Meeting

What follows are two edited reports published by the Anglican Communion News Service.

The first features Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams making a statement and then responding to questions after the release of the communiqué prepared by the Primates.

The second document is a short interview with TEC Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori conducted by Matthew Davies of Episcopal News Service.

Lenten reflection podcast available for download

The Anglican Church of Canada has created a series of reflections available for download during Lent, February 21st through April 8th, 2007. These meditations give you a chance to consider questions you might otherwise not think about: Are you taking care of yourself? Are you being truly open and caring with your loved ones? What is important to you? Are you finding meaning in your day to day life?

Primates’ Meeting: Final day

The final day of the Primates’ Meeting became a long day’s journey into night as the final session began at 10:00 pm. The day has been occupied with trying to reach consensus on some of the outstanding issues remaining on the agenda.

Report of the Covenant Design Group

The Covenant Design Group, appointed by the Archbishop of Canterbury on behalf of the Primates of the Anglican Communion, held its first meeting in Nassau, the Bahamas, between Monday, 15th and Thursday, 18th January, 2007. The Archbishop of the West Indies, the Most Revd Drexel Gomez, chaired the group.

The Communiqué of the Primates’ Meeting in Dar es Salaam

1. We, the Primates and Moderators of the Anglican Communion, gathered for mutual consultation and prayer at Dar es Salaam between 15th and 19th February 2007 at the invitation of the Archbishop of Canterbury and as guests of the Primate of Tanzania, Archbishop Donald Leo Mtetemela. The meeting convened in an atmosphere of mutual graciousness as the Primates sought together to seek the will of God for the future life of the Communion. We are grateful for the warm hospitality and generosity of Archbishop Donald and his Church members, many of whom have worked hard to ensure that our visit has been pleasant and comfortable, including our travel to Zanzibar on the Sunday.

Primates’ Meeting: Talks take a turn

The way that the Primates’ Meetings had been proceeding took a turn on Saturday. Archbishop Phillip Aspinall of Australia the spokesperson for the Primates was unable to attend the media briefing. He is part of the team producing the final statement and was needed for the meeting that had begun to work on the statement.

The Primates: Intense but gracious listening

“It was day of very intensive listening, characterised by graciousness, patience and care.”

These were the opening words of Archbishop Phillip Aspinall, Primate of Australia and the designated spokesperson for the Primates as they began their meeting in Tanzania.