Bishop Baxter at Lambeth - July 20

Editor's note:

We are sharing Bishop Baxter's Lambeth Journal for those who may be interested in reading it.

July 20, 2008

Dear Friends in Christ,

Today was the formal opening Eucharist of the Lambeth Conference. I can't express how magnificent it was to see approximately 670 bishop--conservatives, moderates and progressives, processing side by side into the Canterbury Cathedral, the ancient seat of St. Augustine and Anglicanism. Representatives from about 75 denominations were present and processed. The worship represented the great cultural, racial, and linguistic diversity of the Communion. The musical setting of the liturgy was Congolese mass performed by the men and boys choir of Canterbury Cathedral. The petitions of the Prayers of the People were in Hindi, Portuguese, Japanese and French with English subtext and responses. The Gospel procession lead by Melanesian dancers and singers bearing the Gospel on a ceremonial ark built like a canoe. The Archbishop Sursum Corda in Congolese and English.

Perhaps one of the most poignant moments of the liturgy was the sermon by the Bishop of Colombo, Sri Lanka. As the Archbishop had done earlier, he mentioned the sadness we all feel in the absence of the several protesting Provinces (about 200+ Bishops). Bp de Chickera shared that "we are a wounded community...a crisis that can't be resolved instantly." But he said that absence undermines unity. Then citing the Gospel (Matthew 13, "If we uproot the unrighteous, then none of us will remain....I suggest that we stay together and grow from our common heritage, regardless of our differences." Finally, he reminded progressives that self-examination and discipline for the sake of the communion is an obligation which must be taken more seriously.

This evening all the bishops were gathered to review the agenda for the conference. This included:

Daily small group discussion based on scripture but addressing the issues of division;

Indaba Groups 2-3 times weekly (this is the combining 7-8 small groups for a broader
conversation. It is a method used in Zulu villages when there is a crisis to insure that all are heard by a larger portion of the community. It is principally for listening, counsel and advice but not decision making.)

Optional learning sessions to better understand specific aspects of controversy either with scholars or invited guest who represent a particular view.

We were also advised that the Covenant Process and the Continuing Windsor
Report Process will be a major part of our work. However, it was emphasized that Conference is not a context for decision making or editing, rather a time for education, discussion and advising. Decisions will be made after individual provinces (e.g. The Episcopal Church)and their bishops have had a year of review and offer their opinions and views.

Well, it promises to be an intense but meaningful conference. My prayer is that we will come to a place to recognize the treasure we have as a communion is from God and that God's way forward for us may be beyond our wildest hopes or fear.

Peace in Christ,
+Nathan
a Lambeth Pilgrim

Bishop Baxter at Lambeth - July 16

Editor's note:

We are reprinting Bishop Baxter's Lambeth Journal for those who may be interested in it.

July 16, 2008

Dear Friends in Christ,

Mary Ellen and I are experiencing our second official day of the Decennial Lambeth Conference, being held at Kent University in Cambridge, England. I say official because we have been here for four days arriving on the 14th.

There are two simultaneous conference at Lambeth: the Bishops' Conference led by the Archbishop of Canterbury; and the Bishops Spouses' Conference led by the Archbishop's wife, Dr. Jane Williams. Spouses have intense daily bible study and conversation groups,special classes and worship (Bishops and spouses share in the daily Eucharist.) We were delighted to discover Dr. Williams chose Mary Ellen to be one of the daily group Bible study facilitators. She was initially a bit reluctant, but after the two day training session and two days of experience she is enjoying the responsibility. Her group includes persons from India, England, Australia and Canada. My group leader is a Bishop from a new diocese in Madagascar and includes New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan and New Guinea. The Bible discussions thus far are rich, contextual and lively.

The Archbishop has designated that the first three days of the Bishops Conference be a retreat. So, rising after a 7:15 a.m. Eucharist in the big top tent (which serves a the central worship space for the conference)we board buses and go to Canterbury Cathedral for day long mediations and worship. It is impressive to see hundreds of bishops from every continent gathered in prayer, learning, and worship. The spirit is robust, and many new relationships are being formed. Archbishop Williams' meditations are in form of pastoral challenges about the ministry of being a bishop:
1. Bishop as one in whom others can see Christ;

2. Bishop as with the integrity to gather and care for all of the people of God, even those with whom he or she may be in disagreement;

3. Bishop as one grounded in the Gospel who moves among the people in various locations, constantly learning to proclaim the Gospel in the language, experience and stories unique to each community.

4. Bishop as a leader modeling communion with the diocese and other bishops, in mission, conflict resolution and witness. In Anglicanism the Christian faith of a individual, congregation or diocese is diminished when lived in isolation from the rest. Each day of the retreat ends with evensong and the voices of Canterbury Cathedral men and boys choir' echoing throughout that ancient sacred space.

The protesting absence of several major Provinces of the Communion is painfully evident.(Surprisingly, some bishops from these provinces have risk to come and participate). However, the small group and public prayers of the Conference continue to lift them up with love and concern. Nonetheless, the spirit of the Conference seems increasingly positive---both frank and respectful thus far; suggesting a desire to build deeper relationship and commitment to Communion as a basis for addressing the hard issues and common mission before us. The prayers of Episcopal and Anglican congregations around the globe is truly having effect. As St. James wrote to his congregations: "The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective". [James 5:16]. Please continue the prayers.

Til my next diary entry, Grace and Peace in Christ.

+Nathan
a Lambeth Pilgrim

Diocesan Convention – Play On!

Those who have been paying attention know that last week’s Diocesan Convention was hosted by the West Branch and Northern Tier convocations. The Northern Tier is our “where’s that?” convocation—a collection of small congregations in small towns along the northern border of the Commonwealth. I suspect that few of us have been there. It is our loss.

First off, these folks are competent, and they managed an event that can easily become—well—not very organized with grace and poise.

Second, these folks know their church music, and they execute beautifully. Joan Berrresford from St. James’, Mansfield, coaxed a nicely-toned rendition of Thomas Tallis’ If Ye Love Me out of a not-quite-pickup choir that had had exactly one rehearsal.

They saved the best for last, though. At the Ordination Eucharist, twenty-something organist Jeffrey Johnston (Trinity, Williamsport) outdid himself, working up a sweat with a bravura rendition of a Mendelssohn prelude, then proceeding to handle the hymns and service music with an aplomb that most veterans never master. Need an extra verse of that hymn? No problem, we’ll just improvise a variation or two.

In short, Convention was the sort of experience that would make a curious Episcopalian head north, just to see what’s going on and what else we might be able to learn from these folks.

From the Other Side of the Pond

Surprises at diocesan conventions are usually few and far between. Attend one of these events, and orderly, predictable agendas are the usual fare. This year’s Central Pennsylvania convention—built on the theme of Global Anglicanism and Local Ministry—promised to be just such a gathering. That is, until the guest speaker got started.

The Rt. Rev. Pierre Whalon is Bishop in charge of the Episcopal Congregations in Europe. His congregations include everything from a cathedral in Paris to parishes in Switzerland, Belgium, and Germany, to a house church in Kazakhstan.

After some introductory descriptions of the geographic scope of the European Episcopal congregations and the Anglican Communion, Bishop Whalon acknowledged that some of the folks in the Communion had been doing a lot of scuffling in recent years. This, he noted, had made some wonder whether the Anglican Communion really does anything or is worth having at all

“So,” said the Bishop, “What happens if the Anglican Communion splits up? Well,” he said, “the short answer is that people will die.”

The Bishop then went on to describe the nature of the work and ministry that goes on in the congregations he serves. “You may think,” he said, “that this is a group of expatriot Americans and Brits, having church while waiting for the next steamer home. That vision, my friends, sank with the Titanic.” He then described parishes whose membership is diverse beyond anything we have in the U.S.: French congregations of Sudanese and other African refugees, blended with Europeans and even a few French; diplomats and NGO leaders in Geneva, Episcopalians in Spain and Italy.

This is an Episcopal church that, while very much an American institution, has much shorter and more direct, more “local” ties to our Anglican brethren than most of our domestic dioceses. Their local ministries are similar to our local ministries, but they nearly always have international connections, and these connections reinforce the connectedness of the Communion itself.

By way of illustration, Bishop Whalon offered this: “Let me give you an example. The rector of our congregation in Geneva had noticed that a number of the leaders of non-governmental organization in Geneva were part of his parish. He got them together and said, in so many words, ‘Why don’t you folks work together to do something about AIDS in Africa?’ That was the beginning of what is now the U.N. AIDS program in Africa.”

He pointed out that, because of the cooperative structures that our Anglican Communion relationships provide, many nationalities can readily cooperate, and people and resources can be brought to bear with fluidity in places where there are real, even desperate needs. It is an effect that is frequently catalytic, not always visible, but never trivial.

Wrapping up his presentation, Bishop Whalon compared the current quarrels in the Communion to a marriage that is “stuck.” “When this happens,” he said, “one of three things can happen. First, the marriage can stay stuck. In that case, both parties remain uncomfortable and nothing changes. Second, one of the parties can give in. This solves the problem, but at the cost of the dignity of at least one partner. However, in the best case, the parties can decide to grow up, back off, and figure out how to continue living together in a way that makes their differences less of a problem.”

Bishop Whalon concluded by voicing his hope and expectation that, at the upcoming Lambeth Conference, the bishops of the church will take their allotted three weeks to decide to grow up, set their differences aside, and get on with the global mission that was the original impetus for the creation of the Anglican Communion.

Interesting Connections

Two items caught my eye today, and each suggests in a different way that mission—defined as spreading the Good News—often lies in venues we don’t expect.

First, consider the story in the New York Times about the Archbishop of Canterbury’s meeting with the Pope Benedict. The subject under discussion: a runup to the seventh annual Building Bridges seminar in Rome, an ongoing dialogue between Christian and Muslim clerics. Could it be that it is the Muslims who will help forge a better understanding between Anglicans and Catholics by helping them refocus on what they all have in common with Abraham’s other two faiths? You can read the article here.

Second, consider the announcement of a collection of newspaper columns written by Bethlehem (PA) Bishop Paul Marshall. Defining his purpose, Bishop Marshall says, "I have from the first spent most of my time each month attempting to reach those who think Christianity is irrelevant or anti-intellectual, and those who have been burned by rigorist religion." In other words, let’s not get ourselves excited over the fine points of denominational theology, but focus instead on those who really don’t know us very well, if at all. You can read the announcement here.

To be sure, both of these are “big picture” stories, but they can be applied locally. Perhaps the best way to find a path forward with the person at the other end of your pew is to get him to help you reach the person who has never darkened the door, or who left in a huff some years back.

A New Rector for St. James’, Lancaster

The vestry and people of St. James”, Lancaster, have announced the appointment of their new rector. The Rev. David Warner Peck will begin his tenure at the end of the summer.

Father Peck is currently serving as Secretary for International Development for the Archbishop of Canterbury, serving as the principal advisor on African affairs, international development and UN agencies. His wife, Cordelia, is a social historian currently working for an international aid agency helping churches in Europe speak up on issues around global poverty, such as the effects of climate change on the poor. You can find more here.

Remembering Bishop Saito

The Rev. Ron Lynch recently passed along the following note regarding the death of Bishop Paul Saito.

"On Sunday morning, March 30th, 2008, The Rt. Rev. Paul S. Saito, Retired Bishop of North Kanto, Japan, unexpectedly passed away at his home in Japan, with his wife by his side. The Diocese of North Kanto was our companion diocese for many years.

A Vigil Service took place on the evening of his birthday, April 1st, and the Funeral was held on April 2nd. On the day following his death he would have been 94 years old. He had two children, three grandsons, and several great-grandchildren.

Bishop Saito was well known in our Diocese traveling here many times as a priest and as bishop."