Further reflections on Lambeth

The Anglican Communion is an astonishing work of God. How is it that over 600 bishops from all over the world, with their spouses, can share together in the worship of the Holy Communion, conducted in different languages? The simplicity and universal appeal of what Jesus gave us moved me day by day as I sat with people from so many different cultures. We gained enormously from each others' insights both in the Bible study groups and in the larger INDABA discussion groups. Since there was no debating and winning or losing votes, there was a lot of careful listening. Most would say they gained a better understanding of others' points of view and of how their actions might create serious problems for those in other parts of the world.

But for Molly and I, Lambeth was the opportunity to meet an amazing diversity of wonderful Christian leaders. Let me single out:

• An African bishop and his wife who had to travel 3 hours each way to another country to get food to leave behind for their family
• The Bishop of Egypt, formerly a surgeon and the director of a large hospital; he was very clear what damage permissive Christian morality in the West does in a muslim country.
• Ismail, bishop of the Darfur region, one of several Sudanese bishops who had seen much suffering. He had grown up as a muslim but at the age of 17 fled to Khartoum when his father beat him for attending a church. A few years later, as a priest in the Southern Sudan he was imprisoned by the army for 7 months, yet he refused to deny his faith and each day never knew whether or not he would live to see the next day.
• The bishops of Luisiana and Missippi. They had seen dreadful devastation resulting from Hurrican Katriona and were angry that the US State gave far more aid for rebuilding homes and businesses to the well-off rather than to the poor.
• Bishops from South India where sex is not the issue (it is a taboo subject); uppermost for them and their people is where the next meal is coming from.
• Bishop Devasahayam from Madras, a dalit (ie.‘untouchable), educated by the Church and passionate for an end to the racism in India which treats 25% of the population as if they are non-persons. Over 8000 dalit converts had been baptised in his diocese in 2 years.

This wonderful event only happens because Jesus has his Church in every part of the world. The missionaries who planted these churches believed that the one true God sent Jesus to be for all cultures. The Lambeth Conference reminds us to hold on firmly to this truth in Britain today; for God has given to Jesus all authority in the world - however politically insensitive this might seem in our multi-faith society.

And what about the future of the Anglican Communion? It is hard to say. Those present were deeply sorry that over 200 bishops declined to come, mostly from Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Nigeria. It may be hard to rebuild relationships with them. There will be a Pastoral Forum to address serious concerns in the Communion along with a Covenant to hold us to the good of the whole Body. The framework will be there, if only we can work with it.

Graham Dow, Bishop of Carlisle