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The Bishop of Woolwich writes ... 
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'You must not forsake the ship in a tempest because you cannot rule and keep down the winds....'. Thomas More wrote these words in 1515 without knowing just how fateful they would turn out to be in his own life. By contrast, those making their pilgrimage to Canterbury for the Lambeth Conference in July were well aware of the controversies engulfing the Anglican Communion. Bishops participating were decidedly on board; but there any parallels between the Communion and More's Utopia ended! A significant minority stayed away for a number of reasons ranging from disaffection to illness, some were discouraged from attending; but the Archbishop of Canterbury with characteristic generosity said we were all diminished by their absence.

Of course for the Southwark contingent, arriving by coach with our guests from Zimbabwe, Toronto, Brazil and Mexico, Lambeth 2008 began with the very successful diocesan hospitality programme over the previous week which raised expectations considerably. Many more travelled down to resource workshops, self select sessions, stalls in the market place and fringe events: a sea of familiar faces! Southwark was doing its bit to strengthen bonds of mutuality.

Day by day as circles of connection widened, as bishops prayed together and began to listen to one another in small bible study groups and larger 'indaba' style engagement, borrowing a model commended by the Archbishop of Cape Town, as spouses took their own programme forward including creative art work, there was just a sense, often in the unscripted sometimes chance encounters, that the Communion was beginning to love itself again. With over two thirds of the delegates attending for the first time there was real joy in celebrating life as part of a worldwide family of churches, not least in the liturgy where provinces presided in turn and shared their challenges, struggles and hopes for the future. Companion links, diocese by diocese, parish by parish are one important way in which channels of solidarity in prayer and support are sustained across the Communion.

The Conference Design Group succeeded in allowing all voices rather than just the loudest to be heard and I am not alone in being profoundly thankful for this. In other words the 'process' held effectively. This does not change any of the complex issues which continue to be debated and will be taken forward in the coming months, including the developing proposals for an Anglican Covenant and efforts to strengthen the instruments of unity, but it will I hope make a qualitative difference. The Archbishop's Pastoral Letter released at the end of August is the most recent source of information on this work in progress (www.lambethconference.org). A telling perspective came from one of the many official ecumenical participants from other Christian churches: 'Your questions are our questions also; or if not yet, they will be so in the future'.

Beyond questions about our future Anglican identity there was a powerful desire throughout the Conference to give due recognition to the struggle for global justice and the eradication of poverty for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This culminated in the London Day marching through Whitehall to Lambeth Palace in support of the Millennium Development Goals which unite churches, people of different faiths and national governments in common cause. After nearly three weeks in Canterbury (and one day in Lambeth putting things into perspective!) I pray that we shall each in our pilgrimage find words of encouragement and hope which will strengthen the Communion and our witness as Anglicans in the world, the Lord being our helper.

+Christopher Woolwich
 

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