A Message from Bishop José - Lambeth Conference 2022
July 24, 2022
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Tomorrow, I will depart for England to attend the Lambeth Conference. The Lambeth Conference is one of the four instruments of Unity in the Anglican Communion. Convened by the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lambeth Conference is a gathering of bishops from across the 85 million-member worldwide Anglican Communion for prayer, reflection, fellowship and dialogue on church and world affairs.
This year’s Lambeth Conference will be held from July 27th to August 8th with the theme, “God’s Church for God’s World: walking, listening and witnessing together.” Although we will begin face to face gatherings next week, bishops from around the world have been meeting via zoom since last fall in a series of small group meetings. My small group consisted of bishops from the United States, Canada, South America, Africa and Asia. Our various discussions focused on a variety of issues that face our Anglican Church and the world, with the First Epistle of Peter as the basis of our reflection. For me, these discussions were life giving and engaging. Despite our varied contexts in which we serve, we all shared a deep desire to make the love of God known to all.
In addition to these zoom meetings, the Archbishop of Canterbury has sent bishops a fair number of resources and documents for bishops to study in preparation for our work in England. One such document, entitled “Lambeth Calls,” was sent earlier this week. The intro to this 58 page study guide states that “The Archbishop of Canterbury has announced that the bishops gathered for discussions will adopt a process called, “Lambeth Calls.” It continues, “Lambeth Calls is the name being giving to describe declarations, affirmations and specific calls to the church shared by bishops that are taking part in the Lambeth Conference in 2022.” These calls address such topics as reconciliation, Anglican identity, discipleship, science and faith, mission and evangelism, environment and sustainable development, Christian Unity, Interfaith relations, and human dignity.
Bishops will be asked to vote on these matters, with one of two voting options:
“This call speaks for me. I add my voice to it and commit myself to take the action I can do to implement it. Or,
This call requires further discernment, I commit myself to the ongoing process.”
Contained within the call of “human dignity,” there is a provision included for affirmation that has caused a great deal of frustration among many bishops, me included. In addition, it has been the subject of a variety of news stories in the last 48 hours and inquiry from members of our diocese. The specific provision asks bishops to affirm:
It is the mind of the Anglican Communion as a whole that same gender marriage is not permissible. Lambeth Resolution I.10 (1998) states that the “legitimizing or blessing of same sex unions” cannot be advised. It is the mind of the Communion to uphold “faithfulness in marriage between a man and a woman in lifelong union” (I.10, 1998).
It is this specific provision that I want to address. First, it is important that I share with you the fact that bishops were assured that this issue – which had caused a great deal of tension and division at the last Lambeth Conference in 2008 – would not be a topic of conversation at this gathering.
Second, it is important to note that the Lambeth Conference is not an official synod. The Lambeth Conference does not have legislative authority, and as a result, decisions by the Conference do not supersede the Canons of the Episcopal Church or any other province of the Anglican Communion.
The Episcopal Church, and the Diocese of Western North Carolina has been very clear on the full inclusion of LGBTQ+ people in our Church. The most recent General Convention of the Episcopal Church passed many resolutions reaffirming and expanding that commitment. And while I understand that this is not the case throughout the Anglican Province, full inclusion has been settled in the Episcopal Church.
Lastly, let me be very clear. I will travel to Lambeth with a readiness to listen, reflect and be active in conversations with my fellow bishops about what the Holy Spirit is calling us to do as the Anglican Communion.
But I will also be clear in sharing that the Good News of Jesus Christ is not exclusionary. I will be clear in my commitment, and that of this diocese, to the full inclusion and involvement of the LGBTQ+ community in our church, including access to all sacramental rites. I will bear witness for the amazing ways in which I see the Spirit working in this part of God’s Kingdom. I will come with a spirt of love, and a strong commitment to the Baptismal Covenant, to seek and serve Christ in all persons and respect the dignity of every human being.
I ask you all for prayers. Pray for safe journey, for active listening and reflection among bishops, for open hearts and for the presence of the Holy Spirit upon our holy work.
Finally, I will do my best to send regular messages back to the diocese during the Lambeth Conference utilizing our diocesan social media platforms. I would also invite you to learn more about the Lambeth Conference and follow the events and work by going to www.lambethconference.org
Laurel and I are honored to represent the people of the Diocese of Western North Carolina and commit ourselves to this important work ahead.
Faithfully,
The Rt. Rev. José A. McLoughlin
Bishop
July 24, 2022
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Tomorrow, I will depart for England to attend the Lambeth Conference. The Lambeth Conference is one of the four instruments of Unity in the Anglican Communion. Convened by the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lambeth Conference is a gathering of bishops from across the 85 million-member worldwide Anglican Communion for prayer, reflection, fellowship and dialogue on church and world affairs.
This year’s Lambeth Conference will be held from July 27th to August 8th with the theme, “God’s Church for God’s World: walking, listening and witnessing together.” Although we will begin face to face gatherings next week, bishops from around the world have been meeting via zoom since last fall in a series of small group meetings. My small group consisted of bishops from the United States, Canada, South America, Africa and Asia. Our various discussions focused on a variety of issues that face our Anglican Church and the world, with the First Epistle of Peter as the basis of our reflection. For me, these discussions were life giving and engaging. Despite our varied contexts in which we serve, we all shared a deep desire to make the love of God known to all.
In addition to these zoom meetings, the Archbishop of Canterbury has sent bishops a fair number of resources and documents for bishops to study in preparation for our work in England. One such document, entitled “Lambeth Calls,” was sent earlier this week. The intro to this 58 page study guide states that “The Archbishop of Canterbury has announced that the bishops gathered for discussions will adopt a process called, “Lambeth Calls.” It continues, “Lambeth Calls is the name being giving to describe declarations, affirmations and specific calls to the church shared by bishops that are taking part in the Lambeth Conference in 2022.” These calls address such topics as reconciliation, Anglican identity, discipleship, science and faith, mission and evangelism, environment and sustainable development, Christian Unity, Interfaith relations, and human dignity.
Bishops will be asked to vote on these matters, with one of two voting options:
“This call speaks for me. I add my voice to it and commit myself to take the action I can do to implement it. Or,
This call requires further discernment, I commit myself to the ongoing process.”
Contained within the call of “human dignity,” there is a provision included for affirmation that has caused a great deal of frustration among many bishops, me included. In addition, it has been the subject of a variety of news stories in the last 48 hours and inquiry from members of our diocese. The specific provision asks bishops to affirm:
It is the mind of the Anglican Communion as a whole that same gender marriage is not permissible. Lambeth Resolution I.10 (1998) states that the “legitimizing or blessing of same sex unions” cannot be advised. It is the mind of the Communion to uphold “faithfulness in marriage between a man and a woman in lifelong union” (I.10, 1998).
It is this specific provision that I want to address. First, it is important that I share with you the fact that bishops were assured that this issue – which had caused a great deal of tension and division at the last Lambeth Conference in 2008 – would not be a topic of conversation at this gathering.
Second, it is important to note that the Lambeth Conference is not an official synod. The Lambeth Conference does not have legislative authority, and as a result, decisions by the Conference do not supersede the Canons of the Episcopal Church or any other province of the Anglican Communion.
The Episcopal Church, and the Diocese of Western North Carolina has been very clear on the full inclusion of LGBTQ+ people in our Church. The most recent General Convention of the Episcopal Church passed many resolutions reaffirming and expanding that commitment. And while I understand that this is not the case throughout the Anglican Province, full inclusion has been settled in the Episcopal Church.
Lastly, let me be very clear. I will travel to Lambeth with a readiness to listen, reflect and be active in conversations with my fellow bishops about what the Holy Spirit is calling us to do as the Anglican Communion.
But I will also be clear in sharing that the Good News of Jesus Christ is not exclusionary. I will be clear in my commitment, and that of this diocese, to the full inclusion and involvement of the LGBTQ+ community in our church, including access to all sacramental rites. I will bear witness for the amazing ways in which I see the Spirit working in this part of God’s Kingdom. I will come with a spirt of love, and a strong commitment to the Baptismal Covenant, to seek and serve Christ in all persons and respect the dignity of every human being.
I ask you all for prayers. Pray for safe journey, for active listening and reflection among bishops, for open hearts and for the presence of the Holy Spirit upon our holy work.
Finally, I will do my best to send regular messages back to the diocese during the Lambeth Conference utilizing our diocesan social media platforms. I would also invite you to learn more about the Lambeth Conference and follow the events and work by going to www.lambethconference.org
Laurel and I are honored to represent the people of the Diocese of Western North Carolina and commit ourselves to this important work ahead.
Faithfully,
The Rt. Rev. José A. McLoughlin
Bishop
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Grace Church in the Mountains
394 N. Haywood Street, Waynesville, North Carolina 28786 • Phone: (828) 456-6029 Email: [email protected]
394 N. Haywood Street, Waynesville, North Carolina 28786 • Phone: (828) 456-6029 Email: [email protected]
