Washington Window September 2008: Reactions to the Lambeth Conference

[Back to index of September 2008 articles]

By Jim Naughton
Washington Window
Vol. 77, No. 8, September 2008

Bishop Chane processes into Canterbury Cathedral to take part in the Lambeth Conference's opening Eucharist

Bishop Chane reflects on Lambeth and the Life of the Communion

Canterbury Tales:
2008 Conference Inspires and Confounds

Lambeth 2008:
Discussions Were Wide-Ranging

Lambeth 2008:
In Bishop Gene Robinson, A Conspicuous Absence

The Most Rev. Carlos Touché Porter, Primate of Mexico : I was prepared for much worse. One thing I enjoy about being Anglican is to live with uncertainty and unresolved questions, and that is how we are going home. But if we are not of one mind, I think we are of one spirit.

The Most Rev. Martin Barahona, Primate of Central America: “I think we are in pretty good spirits. I think that the tension is down. We are happy to be together. I hope this can be maintained.

The Rt. Rev. Trevor M. Mwamba, Bishop of Botswana: “The great virtue was really getting to know one another. The differences, we acknowledge, are there, but it does give us that hope to work on them.

"It's all about patience, as well, in terms of how we want to walk together. Some want to run. Some want to walk. Some want to crawl. We need to find this pace together."

The Rt. Rev. Jon Bruno, Bishop of Los Angeles: “I can only say that inclusion is a reality in our diocese and will continue to be. For people who think that this is going to lead us to disenfranchise any gay or lesbian person, they are sadly mistaken.”

Bishop P. K. Samantaroy, Diocese of Amritsar, Church of North India (in a letter during the conference to Canon Philip Groves of the Anglican Communion office):

I came to attend the Lambeth Conference with lot of questions in my mind about the issue of human sexuality as I knew this issue has threatened the unity in the Anglican Communion. Coming from a conservative back-ground I was not even prepared to listen to any person who supported the gay and lesbian people. However, the Indaba experience [based on intensive discussion] has changed my opinion. After listening to the stories of bishops coming from different cultural contexts I have become aware of the pain and agony people have bear because of our attitude towards each other. Further, I am convinced that despite their different and often opposite positions all are committed to live and grow within the Anglican family.

[Back to index of September 2008 articles]