September 2008

Bishops and their spouses from 130 countries attended the Lambeth Conference. The most important outcome of such a conference is that so many people of different nationalities should come together to study, think, pray and discuss important issues, which affect the life of the Anglican Communion and its mission in the world.

It was the most wonderful privilege to share for over two weeks with so many. Every day in queues waiting for our meals or walking towards the Big Top for worship, in Bible Study and Indaba Groups, we met people from so many different countries. We were always greeted with warm smiles and handshakes and exchanged information about our countries and dioceses. The only sadness was the people who did not come and they were greatly missed. However there were nearly 700 bishops with their spouses who had a separate programme.

The importance of our companion links with the Dioceses of Tanga, Dar es Salaam and Masasi in Tanzania, was affirmed by the conference. Most important is the exchange of people and growing in a relationship of love through meeting one another across the dividing lines of culture, colour and race.

There were many highlights during the time of the Conference, far too many to list in this short letter to you all, but Bishop Anthony and I were deeply appreciative of your prayers and support. Worship and prayer were at the heart of the Conference and we were very aware of how you upheld us while we were away.

There was one subject that was dominating the press, namely human sexuality. However for many at the Conference this was not greatly significant because they came from places which were battling with grinding poverty, disease, HIV Aids, famine and lack of education. It was a privilege to walk through London with people, who have real experience of these issues, to affirm the importance of the Millennium goals and the hope that nations would honour their pledges to eradicate poverty and disease and provide fresh water and the basic necessities of life, which we in the West take for granted. This was a march to support and affirm the Government in its aims to achieve these goals and encourage other nations to do the same. It met with a warm response from our Prime Minister.

You will no doubt have read all sorts of articles about the Lambeth Conference but the over- riding impression, I came away with, was of bishops determined to uphold the life of the Anglican Communion as a result of their deep relationships which they made at the Conference and the determination to go forward in taking God's mission to all the nations of the world.