Relationships mark Lambeth journey

Bishop Waggoner with Bishops Greg Rickel and Nedi Rivera of the Diocese of Olympia in Western Washington during the recent Lambeth Conference in Canterbury, England.

Editor’s note: Some of the excerpts below have been posted on the diocesan website or in the bishop’s electronic Lambeth Conference newsletters. The August 3 reflection has not been previously published.

July 11 – Spokane

“[T]he first Lambeth Conference was convened [in 1867] in a spirit of ‘Resolving to Confer and Conferring to Resolve: the Anglican Way.’ The intention … was not to legislate for the communion nor to function as a governing body. The invitation was to pray, study, and build relationships across the communion for the sake of God’s mission.”

The Bishop and Gloria spent their first four days in the Uckfield Deanery (named for the river Uck) in the Diocese of Chichester in the south of England. Here they were hosted by a local couple and engaged in a series of meetings, mostly in people’s homes. On Sunday, July 13, Bishop Waggoner preached at Holy Cross Church.

July 16 – Canterbury

“In many hours of conversation, only a small percentage was about the usual headline issues of sexuality and ordination of women as bishops; people were eager to hear about how TEC operates and voiced widespread misperceptions. It was enlightening to hear firsthand the impression that The Episcopal Church (hereafter TEC) was in turmoil and deeply divided throughout the country. The fact that most TEC eligible bishops were attending seemed a surprise. This spoke to the influence of inaccurate reports about TEC in local papers. … A majority of the questions reflected a desire that the Anglican Communion not be divided. … They repeatedly expressed gratitude for the opportunity to talk face to face. … We learned a great deal from them about the richness of their history and the context in which the churches function, still influenced significantly by patronage and  eager, as are we, to get on with mission.”

After the Waggoners left Uckfield for Canterbury, and settled into separate sparse dormitory rooms at Kent College, Bishop Waggoner participated in a day and a half of training for those who had been asked to lead Bible study groups throughout the Conference. This was followed by a three-day retreat led by the Archbishop of Canterbury in Canterbury Cathedral, focusing on the topic “God’s mission and a bishop’s discipleship.” The daily conference schedule included early and late worship, Bible study, Indaba [structured discussion] groups, workshops, presentations, and other options.

July 24 – London Day

Bishop Waggoner marches in support of the MDGs with the Bishop’s and Spouses of the Anglican Communion at the 2008 Lambeth Conference.

“[T]he entire group made the three-hour bus trip to the city [London] and participated in the Walk of Witness in support of the MDGs [Millennium Development Goals], after which we were treated to events of memorably gracious hospitality at Lambeth and Buckingham Palaces. … [T]he spirit of the day was carried by the Walk of Witness in which more than 1,000 of us marched with placards in support of action to eradicate poverty and the dire consequences it perpetuates. …

“At the end of the walk we heard the Archbishop of Canterbury call all to Gospel imperative action for the poor followed by a passionately powerful speech by Prime Minister Gordon Brown focusing on the same imperatives for governments and nations. …

“Bishops from some of the most devastatingly poor countries have said to me that discussion of sexuality and like concerns is a luxury of the rich compared to the life threatening circumstances that they must address daily. It reminds one of the scripture, ‘Your concerns are not my concerns,’ says the Lord. And certainly challenges us to put in perspective that which is of highest priority.”

July 28 – Canterbury

“Though there remain distinct and abiding differences on matters of ordaining gay and lesbian persons to the episcopate and the proposed [Anglican] Covenant, … the overall tone of the conference remains far more positive than negative. Disagreement on issues does not normally translate into dislike or disrespect of one another. … The more strident, critical voices making headlines are few and frequently misleading, especially if taken as the sentiment of the body here.

“… One primary tension is whether we will evolve into a federation of national provinces that are connected, but clearly independent of one another, or become more a Communion unified in mission and interdependent. The latter is of course the preference, but the way there is not yet clear and a consensus is yet to come.

“… [W]e are exceptionally well served by the leadership of the Archbishop of Canterbury and our own Presiding Bishop … in that both model being non-anxious, centered, and unhurried in a body where anxiety could easily escalate to the level of reactive decisions that would be less than wise and lastingly harmful.”

August 3 – Canterbury

“I begin this day keenly aware that my good intentions to post daily thoughts on line didn’t hold. That may sound familiar to you about good intentions. It is remarkably so for me.

“What I learned early on is that the only way to be here ­at the conference is to be here in the conference, to be immersed in the daily sessions as an active listener and participant in the nearly constant conversations … .”

“… Through a process of asking deeper questions, without rushing to decisions, we have discovered how much more we are alike than different in our humanity and in our hopes, and have done so, I believe, without minimizing our still existing disagreements in matters such as Biblical interpretation. …

“… The Communion has been changed forever because we met and a great deal of what has occurred would not have happened without this conference.  … Even employing the best of technology one cannot duplicate experiencing the Divine presence reflected in  the face of another, and cannot hear the Spirit speak as it does through the tears and joys of others.

“A welcome surprise for me is I have discovered that being here does not mean being disconnected from home. … [O]ur local context is the core for our ministry even though we are called to think and act globally. We all have come from some place and we will return to that place, and it is there that our episcopal ministry, and that of our spouses, is lived out daily and most deeply … .

“… Whatever the words yet to come, I pray that they will somehow reflect that we have been striving to build bridges across the Communion, that we have established and  strengthened relationships that will serve God’s mission beyond where we’ve been and, by God’s grace, open the way for the One who has shown us the way to work through a woefully fallible yet wondrously faithful instrument called the Anglican Communion.”