Canterbury Tails

End Times

August 2, 2008

 

It is 11:00 p.m., when night has settled in and the conference shifting into conclusion mode.

 

It has been a full day. The bible study, John 18:1-18, provided a look at the betrayal and arrest of Jesus. John, as always, presents a multi-levelled look at the passage. Three times Jesus says “I am”, three times Peter denies Jesus, three questions Pilate asks, three days pass between crucifixion and resurrection and three times Jesus questions Peter during the post-resurrection breakfast party. In the reading, Jesus shuns the violent act of Simon Peter cutting the ear of the solider preferring acts of love, courage and simple conviction. I was appalled to learn of the horrific act of violence perpetrated on the victim of a beheading on a bus that I read on the Internet this morning. Senseless acts of violence or even planned acts of violence too often mark human behaviour. Jesus offers a better way. Whatever we may witness, the love of God is still the most powerful force in the universe. Jesus, in obedience to the Father, humbles himself to the violence of others so that all may have life.

 

I was a little late for the Indaba group as I reviewed with Lambeth and Anglican Communion staff the plans for the annual meeting of the Compass Rose Society in Canterbury in November. 

 

The Indaba group put forward suggestions offering the conference a way forward built on as much pastoral generosity as we could muster. We then met for the last time as a large group with the writing team, preparing the communication that will be issued at the end of the conference. This Lambeth Conference differs from its predecessors in process and style. No resolutions were debated and no votes taken. Rather, through the extraordinary process of listening and the careful work of a large number of people behind the scenes a reflection will be issued that contains the thoughts of the Indaba groups, the input of the plenary sessions and the expressions self-select programs to offer to the church and the world. I have no doubt it will be criticized in some quarters but in general it will have the support of those gathered here. 

 

Some of what the reflections contain will I hope inspire the church to recommit itself to Mission and Evangelism, Human and Social Justice, Environment, Ecumenism, relations with World Religions, all which I hope will strengthening the Anglican Identity. Over and over again, we heard the solidarity we hold on these critical issues. The sections on Human Sexuality, which frankly explored only one aspect of human sexuality - namely homosexuality, and the section on Scripture will no doubt be controversial. I am left with the sense that the Bishops want to stay in Communion with one another but we will have to exercise restraint and pastoral generosity in humility if we are to succeed.

 

For nearly three weeks we have listen and talked and learned about each other. Now, when some statement or other attracts the attention of the media we will know who is speaking and be able to put a face to the voice. We will know that everyone seeks to serve God faithfully and we will know that we hold much in common. By the grace of God we will continue the journey together.

 

Tonight, we gathered under the big top and heard from the stewards, young people drawn from 14 Provinces of the Communion - able to speak 30 languages between them, about their reflections of the past three weeks. This was their opportunity to be heard and their words did not disappoint. We learned about youth ministry in South Africa and the Seychelles, were reminded of the passion young people have for the faith and heard their plea to be given a place not only in the church, but also around the table of governance. Often interrupted by applause and laughter the four speakers inspired Bishops to rethink the ways they can engage the youth.

 

The stewards have worked long and hard to help shepherd the bishops around the campus (they likened it to herding cats!!), getting us on and off buses and ensuring an element of security. The security presence has been most visible and we are all appreciative of the magnificent work the staff and volunteers of the conference have given.

 

The self-select and fringe groups offered a plethora of opportunities for the Bishops to be equipped to be better bishops which, of course, was the purpose of this enterprise.

 

Tomorrow we have one last bible study, one last plenary, hear from the Archbishop and share one last Eucharist in Canterbury. The Bishops will wear their cassocks and sit with their spouses - a rare treat in my experience. I look forward to sitting with my wife and taking communion with her.

 

We will bid farewell to one another in what I suspect will be an emotional time for Spouses and for Bishops and head off for home knowing that this exact group will never meet again. We will leave knowing that some return to situations of enormous poverty, some to war torn areas, some to unstable political situations, some to democracies and some to oppressive governments. We will leave knowing that the prayers of the church are with us and renewed in the ministries to which we are each called. We will leave knowing that our stories will be told around the world and knowing that this beloved church of ours is still proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ to a wounded and broken world.

 

So the 14th Lambeth Conference is in the history books. May our labours bear fruit in the church and in the world in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

 

It is night. The night is for sleeping. What has been done has been done. What has not been done is undone. Let it be.

 

Draw your church together O Lord.

 

+Philip Poole

2 Days 2 Go

August 1, 2008

 

It is hard to imagine that in just two days we will be winging our way back over the Atlantic, having been way for over a month from home. Home. Just the mere mention of the word transports my mind far from here. I miss my family, my house, my friends and my summer cottage where God willing we will spend a couple of weeks in August. Home. I sure hope someone has been cutting the grass…

 

With two days left in the conference, there is a realization among delegates that we have much left to do and minds are focused on the task at hand. What will the final conference report say? The Indaba groups have been supported by a person who has been recording our words on a laptop, while a second person, our “designated listener”, has been taking close notes. This Lambeth has a different feel, process and flow from previous patterns - so I am told. Told, because the majority of bishops are attending their first Lambeth but the veterans tell us what it was like in the past. We have not met in sessions where strong debate leads to resolutions on the floor and a chairperson figures out what to do with the motion, the amendment and the amendment to the amendment!! 

 

Rather, in groups of 40 we have listened, spoken, prayed and recorded through two separate people our thoughts and feelings. Then overnight all that information is distilled and each Indaba group receives a copy the next day of their thoughts while a writing group compiles an overall draft of what has been said and reports that to the conference as a whole meeting in plenary. The volunteers have done an enormous job compiling the material into a form in which most of us can recognize our voice. Today, we continue the reflections on the issues dividing us. Most issues, I have learned, unite us. There is common cause in the issues of poverty, injustice, HIV/AIDS, water, gender inequality, peace, eradication of disease and access to education among many others. But the thorny issues of human sexuality, authority, and the understanding of Holy Scripture do not gather a common mind. We are hearing each other but in my view we are far apart. 

 

On the one hand that is nothing new, in a church which was born as a compromise created in the Elizabethan Settlement, which confesses the ancient creeds - which themselves were the result of controversy - and whose history has been marked by strong division tempered by a unique ability to find the middle ground. I am hopeful but not overly optimistic that the common way forward will be achieved. However, I am confident that the Holy Spirit is at work transforming each of us and generally those who chose to gather here are working hard at keeping our beloved fractured church and communion together.

 

Later today we will receive the fourth draft of the document (whose title I do not yet know) that will be issued to the church at the conclusion. The seriousness of the conversations in which we are engaged is not lost on any of the Bishops. Two words, which have great currency here at Lambeth, are context and culture. That is where much of our diversity is rooted. For instance, the March, “the Walk for Witness” the bishops participated in last week in London would simply not have been possible in many other countries. Criticizing government leaders in a public manner as we did in London would not be tolerated in some countries. In reality most of the bishops here will not return home for a few weeks respite at a summer cottage. In some countries the topic of human sexuality is freely (indeed excessively) debated while in others “these things are not spoken of.” Context and culture. We have been privileged, each of us, to gain a more intimate understanding of the church its culture and context in other parts of the world.

 

Everyone here understands Holy Scripture as central to the Anglican expression of the faith and seeks to be faithful to the Scriptures but the interpretation of our common sacred text varies widely as we each seek to read scripture in a way consistent with our received tradition. Are both positions, apparently so different on human sexuality, authority and scripture correct? Could it be both are right? Are compromises possible, while maintaining the inherent integrity of each position?

 

The next 48 hours will help us understand more clearly the shape and immediate future of our Communion. With prayer and deep humility in the Lord the way forward will become clearer. The Compass Rose Society, which many here speak of as a unifying force in the communion, has had a strong presence. Many bishops are inviting us to visit them and to enter into partnerships. I have had numerous conversations with bishops seeking to make common cause with us. I am grateful to Norris Battin for his yeoman service at our booth, to Bob Biehl for assisting in staffing the booth and to Sarah Buxton-Smith for helping out. Bishop Clive Handford (chair) and Board member Victoria Matthews, both on the Windsor Continuation Group, will give the annual meeting of the CRS in November an update on where things stand. I am grateful to them both for accepting my invitation to speak to us.

 

This is a critical day for the conference and I ask for your prayers, as it unfolds, that God’s direction will be made clear. This morning’s bible study will center on John 18 1-18 - “For whom are you looking….?” In some way that could be the title of the Conference.

 

Stay tuned.

 

+Philip Poole

 

 

Hopeful

August 1, 2008 – 6 a.m.

 

My morning started the way it always does. Precisely at 5 a.m., a waste management truck pulled up to the bins about 25 meters from bedroom window and with a few beep, beep, beeps removes the waste leaving me wide awake. Acting like their own alarm clock, the truck wakes the birds, some of which I do not recognize, who begin chirping; doves with a decidedly British accent start cooing and I start stirring. Last night reminded me of the summers of my childhood in Toronto - hot, humid, sticky, no air circulating and certainly no air conditioning, the kind of night when the bed sheets stick to you body. About 3am the humidity broke and a welcome breeze made its way into the residence in which we are staying.

 

Last night the indefatigable Williams had two busloads of people down to their home in Old Palace for drinks, finger food and a look at the Canterbury Home of the Archbishop. Most nights Rowan and Jane host an event, sometimes at Old Palace and sometimes in one of the reception rooms at Kent University. All receive an invitation. It was a meeting in the Old Palace in the mid 1990’s that launched the Compass Rose Society. 

 

We move into the final couple of days of the Lambeth and Spouses Conferences with a very mixed mood among the Bishops. Almost everyone here wants the Anglican Communion to remain as intact as possible but the way forward is not yet clear. Bishops are listening hard to one another, really engaging one another in serious conversation, gaining a deep appreciation of the contexts and cultures each live in and seeking to understand the other. We share so much of our beliefs in common, use similar liturgies, recite the same creeds, express belief in the Anglican formula of scripture, tradition and reason yet come to very different understandings on some issues.

 

On the one hand, even a cursory reading of Anglican Church history reveals different understandings leading to enormous arguments. Somehow these have been woven together in an alliance that has promoted the unity of the church ever since the Elizabethan Settlement. On the other hand, the points of division on the issues we are grappling with divide along very sharp fault lines. Some say homosexuality is a sin and that those in the church who desire to bless faithful, monogamous same-sex partnerships are blessing something that negatively affects those individuals’ eternal life. In many countries homosexuality is illegal. Churches in some parts of the world are accused by other religious groups of belonging to the “gay” church and finding their ministries undermined in the community. Clearly what people do in one part of the world affects people in another part of the world. 

 

Some say homosexuality is a created condition and that homophobia is rampant. They see recognizing the dignity of every human person as an issue of justice. Some say homosexuality does not exist in their cultures and if it does remains well hidden. “Exactly”, others respond, “and that leads to violence against gay and lesbian persons”. Some say the bible is very clear that homosexuality is a sin while others say, “not so fast, there is another way of understanding scripture”. Still others, from both perspectives say they are issues facing people that are far more important than issues of human sexuality-HIV/AIDS, poverty, the MDG’s among others. It is hard for the ear to hear when the stomach is empty.

 

As we move into these last three days, while many feel very unsettled all recognize the gravity of the work in front of us for the future of this Communion. I remain hopeful that God will show us the way forward but it will require enormous pastoral generosity, intentional sacrifice and deeper understanding of the others point of view. Please pray for the Bishops as they continue to meet. Pray also for those who chose not to enter the discussion at the Lambeth Conference, that God’s reconciliation through Jesus Christ may touch the hearts and minds of all of us.

 

I personally remain hopeful that a direction will be found, but have very little clarity exists at this point as to what that direction might be.

 

+Philip Poole

The Final Tail

Well, folks, this wraps it up for me from Canterbury.

It's been a real pleasure talking at you for the past two weeks, and I am most grateful to the Compass Rose Society and our President Bishop Phillip Poole for giving me the privilege to attend the 2008 Lambeth Conference. And many thanks also to those at the Anglican Communion Office who helped with the booth design and the meeting logistics.

Some positive news to end with from this morning's Times:

Bishops back Rowan...

...and so it seems does the Times in its editorial

So some, but of course not all, will say "progress" here. There's much more to do as we go forward.

Let us pray:

Almighty God, you sent your Son Jesus Christ to reconcile

the world to yourself: We praise and bless you for those

whom you have sent in the power of the Spirit to preach the

Gospel to all nations. We thank you that in all parts of the

earth a community of love has been gathered together by

their prayers and labors, and that in every place your servants

call upon your Name; for the kingdom and the power and

the glory are yours for ever. Amen

Blessings,

Norris Battin
Compass Rose Society Communications Committee
 

Kick The Can

From a seasoned observer:

Where's it all headed?

Norris Battin
Compass Rose Communications Committee

Friends Arrive

This morning we welcome to the stand the Rev. Sarah Buxton-Smith, a CRS member and rector of St. Andrew's Church in Buffalo, NY. Sarah is at Lambeth to share  with the bishops and their spouses a pastoral reflection on interfaith marriage.Her presentation is tomorrow so she will cheer on CRS today.

It's great to have company in the booth once again, as Bob Biehl left for home last Friday.

Another CRS notable who's here working at her Anglican Communion travel responsibilities is Lynne Butt who stopped by on her way from breakfast to greet Sarah. She tell us that she has the November Cyprus trip well in hand.

We've been traveling a lot by bus between downtown Canterbury and the University of Kent. The service excellent: two bus routes go to the university and between them, they run about every 15 minutes. A weekly "all you can ride" pass costs seven pounds (the one way journey is one pound twenty, round trip two pounds.) Here's the scene at the university stop and a view inside the double-decker omni.

As for the meeting itself, one bishop we talked to early this morning said that "We're getting close to the fire." Let's see what happens next.

Norris Battin
Compass Rose Communications Comittee

The Good Shepherd

July 29, 2008

 

Canada led the worship at the Big Top this morning, with Bishop Mark MacDonald preaching and Archbishop Hiltz presiding. French, Ojibwa, two other native languages and English showed something of the diversity of our church.

 

This was the Bishops and Spouses Day, with both groups focusing together on the theme “Equal in God’s Sight: When power is abused.” After an introduction by Jane Williams, the conference experienced a series of dramatic presentations based on biblical stories of Jesus, which highlighted the unique ability of our Lord to heal and uphold those in greatest need.

 

Have you ever heard 2 Samuel 13 read during public worship? Of the 1400 people asked that question this morning less than five people said they had ever heard it read as part of a Sunday liturgy. It is the disturbing story of the rape of Tamar, which formed the basis of our bible study this morning. Women and children are most often the victims of abuse.

 

In small groups, we discussed abuse as it is revealed in our home contexts and ways that the church itself can be abusive. The stories were moving and the shout for change very clear. We still live in a world where young children are being forced into child soldiering, teenage girls are being sold into situations where they are sexually abused and where the church is too often turning a blind eye to abuse in its own life. We spoke about the role of church leaders in responding to the abuse of power and offered to share resources with those who have little. One country spoke of a situation where there is no counselling available for victims of abuse either within the church or within society at large! Attitudes are changing slowly and the cry of women is a clarion call to the church international to stand up on issues of gender equality and push for change of attitudes towards the role of women. It was a sobering and powerful morning that I pray touched us all. The Spouses made it very clear that they want the Bishops spending more time on issues of abuse, disease, education, safety of children and the MDG’s and less on the issues of human sexuality.

 

The Bible Study focused on the Jesus as Good Shepherd and offered the bishops a chance to share a little about what it means to be a shepherd `in their own context.

 

The church of Myanmar led the evening worship. A video of their church in action after the devastating cyclone was a powerful reminder of the good a church can do very quickly to help in times of great need. The images were stark and appalling. We watched images of swollen bodies floating face down in a river as boats made their way through them so that supplies could be given to the survivors in isolated and remote areas. A ten-hour car ride each way was undertaken once a week for many weeks by church volunteers risking their own safety to bring food, clean water and to labour in the physical task of rebuilding shelters. It was very sad to watch the gathered community crying as their beloved local church succumbed to the erosion of the riverbank and collapsed into the water. Despite enormous odds and with great faith in Our Lord Jesus these fellow Anglicans found a way to bring hope in a hopeless situation. Made me proud to be an Anglican.

 

The Archbishop gave a kind of mid point speech encouraging us to find enough pastoral generosity and enough love between those who hold differing views to unearth a way to keep our Communion as intact as possible. A few words cannot do justice to what I found to be a compelling speech. On the roller coaster of emotions which have characterized the discussion we have been having, +Rowan’s words actually again gave me hope.

 

Tonight Karen and I, with a group of about fifty, took a candlelight prayer tour of Canterbury Cathedral led by Dean Robert Willis. We had the Cathedral to ourselves and walked though it stopping at certain places including the oldest part of the cathedral, a francophone school where 400 years ago safety was offered to the French Huguenots, the west door, the Compass Rose and the site of Becket’s murder. It was an opportunity to think of the ministry of those who have gone before and to pray and to remember. The evening finished with the service of Compline. Once again we were reminded of the important role this cathedral plays in the lives of Anglicans and its enormous role of offering hospitality to pilgrims and visitors from around the world.

 

+Philip Poole

Three (make that four) Good Reports

Reports from the Church Times blog:

From the Chief Rabbi

The Windsor Continuation Group

Week three: where are we?

Windsor Continuation Group proposals on homosexuality issues, interventions, get mixed reception

Norris Battin

Compass Rose Communications Committee

Images of the University

Here are a few pictures to accompany +Phil's description of the University of Kent campus (click to enlarge).

Norris Battin

Compass Rose Society Communications Comission

 

The Cost of Being a Christian

July 28, 2008

 

The Eucharist this morning was led by the church of the Province of the Indian Ocean and included partners from other parts of the world including our Canadian Bishop from Montreal, Barry Clarke.

 

Our bible study focused on John 10:1-10 - “Jesus said I am the gate”. Some of the countries represented in our Bible Study group do not have sheep. Pigs are more common among them reminding me, as a Southern Ontario boy who grew up not seeing a real shepherd in the Peterborough and Toronto areas, that the biblical images Jesus is recorded as using as illustration are culturally bound to the Palestine he knew. It has been a fascinating exercise to realize that some of the best-known stories in the Bible simply do not translate well in every culture.

 

To state the obvious, church is very different in other parts of the world. One Cathedral, the largest church in its diocese, has no pews whatsoever. People attend and when they sit they sit on the concrete floor of the church. One bishop from a western country observed that people in the west are more comfortable with the idea of people “coming” to church than with the idea of people “going” into the mission fields of the world. A gate swings both ways and is intended to keep what is inside safe and keep out what is harmful. Jesus using himself as the illustration of the gate invites us to go out into the world to proclaim the Good News he offers. The gate becomes an opportunity for us to experience the abundant life Jesus offers, but it is not a cost free choice to “go out into the world.”

 

Yesterday the Spouses Conference heard a very moving example of the cost of being a Christian as experienced by the Melanesian Brothers and Sisters in the Solomon Islands, a story worth learning. Something to Google up.

 

Our Indaba group has begun to explore some of the issues that divide us, but in a respectful and listening way. There is no doubt that we each bring a different understanding of scripture, a different experience of the place of gay and lesbians in society and within the church and a different set of priorities of ministry. Many in our group, which has representatives of some 14 provinces, want to make common cause against the huge issues of disease, hunger, poverty, environment and education. They cannot understand how in the world the west got to where some are on the human sexuality issues but to repeat what someone said, “If the stomach is empty the ear can not hear.”

 

In a large, hot and non air-conditioned room we gathered for the second Hearing reflecting on the second draft of the Windsor Report. It was intense. Canada and the United States were named as being areas of the church in turmoil and causing turmoil. The speakers at the podium spoke passionately, forcefully and critically of same sex blessings, the consecration of a gay man in a committed same sex relationship and again referred with out actually naming the offending provinces to the incursions of bishops into dioceses, uninvited, to provide “Episcopal oversight.” The draft paper called for a moratorium on same sex blessings immediately and retroactively. It called for the establishment of a Pastoral Forum to respond rapidly to emerging issues in relationships within the Communion. Some see the whole process of covenant as punitive, some feel there is no room for a covenant at all, some feel a covenant is the only way forward and some are scratching their heads wondering if we can in fact find a way to keep the Communion intact at all. Still others are hopeful that a way forward will be found. Almost everyone says they value the Communion deeply but only time will tell if a process and a commitment can be agreed upon which will be pastorally generous enough to keep most of us at the table. Please pray for wisdom and discernment in the few days we have remaining.

 

Tonight the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth, Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks, gave an animated, passionate, energetic and articulate lecture on the relationship between the people and God - the covenant. Two standing ovations and frequent interruptions of applause lead me to think that the Chief Rabbi may have aided our own debate on the question of an Anglican Covenant. To say that this was a day of mixed emotions for many would be an understatement. It is wise for us to remember that the church has dealt with crisis throughout its history and always managed to find a satisfactory response. And more than one person has observed, before you arrive at a creed you must deal with a crisis.

 

Tomorrow for the only time in the schedule, the Lambeth Conference and the Spouses Conference meet together. Focusing on the theme for the day “Equal in God’s sight: When Power is abused. The Province of Canada is leading the Eucharist. Each day after the morning Eucharist we watch a 5-minute pictorial video on the prior day. This morning looked at the Lambeth Picture day, a mammoth job of taking a picture first of all the Spouses and then all the Bishops. Laughter marked the video this morning as fast forwarded filming had 600 bishops mounting the risers and leaving the risers in a matter of seconds. I hope that clip will be made available, as it is truly funny and a welcome interlude from the weighty matters under discussions.

 

As I write this a loud thunderstorm is rolling through and the drop in heat and humidity is a welcome relief.

 

+Philip Poole

The Spirit of Indaba

Worth the read:

By Bishop George Packard, TEC Bishop for Chaplaincies

Indaba Surprises

Norris Battin
Compass Rose Society Communications Committee

A Bit About the University of Kent

July 27, 2008

 

Bishops and Spouses were given the opportunity today to attend parishes in the Diocese of Canterbury, worship at the Cathedral, attend a reception hosted by the Lord Mayor of London or find some other creative use of a lightly scheduled day.

 

Delegates at both Conferences are being housed at the University of Kent, a well-respected institute of learning that offers an enormous range of undergraduate and post-graduate degrees. From War Studies to American politics, accounting to religious studies, medicine to music this University holds a fine reputation throughout Europe for its academic research and teaching.

 

Located in the hills above Canterbury Cathedral, about a 10-minute drive away from the town center, the grounds of the University of Kent afford an impressive view of the magnificence of the ancient Cathedral. Christ Church Cathedral dominates the landscape leaving one to imagine what it must have been for early pilgrims to catch their first glimpse of the Cathedral as they made their sacred journeys. Each day and night bishops and spouses reach for their cameras hoping for a photograph from this “birds eye” vantage point.

 

The university, while presently host to a couple of thousand people at this conference, is probably a fairly quiet place without the large student population that is currently on holidays. Karen and I are staying in typical university residences in one of the older places on campus. Darwin College, our host, has an interior courtyard with a wonderful rose garden. Often delegates can be seen wandering through the area, stopping to pray and of course to smell the roses. The Campus offers many areas where one can chat with a friend or simply seek solitude.

 

A team  from different parts of the world have acted as chaplains to the conference, helping lead worship and upholding us all in prayer. They gather for Morning Prayer in the “Senate” building, at the center of campus at 6:30am and pray us thru the day as it were.

 

An army of volunteers from the Canterbury area have joined the “Stewards”, young people from Provinces around the world, in guiding us around. They have been nothing short of superb and I hope the organizers will give us the opportunity as a conference to show our appreciation to them. The stewards bring energy and fun to their work and I think a number of lasting friendships are being formed. The have worked extremely hard to ensure smooth logistics.

 

One of the features of this campus is an extraordinary number of rabbits that hop boldly around the campus. They seem energetic, fat and healthy. I am told there is a fox population that keeps them under control. I think the rabbits are winning.

 

Many nights the Canadian bishops and spouses gather at Woody’s, a popular watering hole located on the other side of this large green campus. Security has been reasonably tight with the Kent Police Department having a significant presence.

 

Another feature is the presence of a church “cartoonist” who provides an interesting look at the Conference through his eyes. His work can be viewed  here. .

 

Today was very hot and humid exceeding I suspect the 26-degree prediction I read at 8am this morning. Tomorrow we are back at it with a “hearing” scheduled in the afternoon. We have come some distance in this Conference but have much hard work left as we enter week two of the Lambeth Conference.

 

+Philip Poole

As Week 2 Begins

Mid conference updates posted this morning:

Jim Naughton

+Tom Wright

And this thought about conference communications  from Thinking Anglicans that has also troubled me as I watch from the sidelines:

"...More generally, and more worryingly, the bishops did not seem to be aware of the documents being issued by official bodies like the Windsor Continuation Group to the conference and also to the press. I am left wondering how such information is being disseminated INSIDE the conference itself."

Finally, for this morning note, the Archbishop of Canterbury's sermon at St. Dunstan's church in Canterbury. Hopeful? We'll see.

Norris Battin
Compass Rose Society Communication's Committee

Staying Tuned on the Sabbath

Two reports I found of great interest today:

George Conger's  here  and

Ruth Gledhill's here (the "fifth instrument" piece)

Let's see what week two brings.

And new (at least to me) from cyberspace -- Pipes. These appear to be blog aggregators that collect blogs with a common theme. Here are two Pipes about Lambeth from Helen Mosher of the Diocese of Washington (D.C.) I'll add them to the links section of this page also. (Click on "links" for the stories and "images" for pictures.)

Lambeth Bishops

Episcopal Cafe

Norris Battin
Compass Rose Society Communications Comittee

Headed to Sabbath Time

July 26, 2008

 

The Church of Australia offered this morning’s Eucharist, after which we headed into our Bible Studies focusing on the passage from John 9:1-41, “The healing of the blind man”. Jesus’ actions of seeing, touching, speaking, finding and conversing are seen in this story and are a model repeated throughout the gospels. Jesus got involved in people’s lives, especially people others ignored. 

 

The story opens with the disciples expressing interest, as society does today, in the meaning and causes of illness. “Did this man sin or did his parents?” “Why me?” is a question often asked when disease strikes. Is there meaning to suffering? Does God visit disease on us? Some cultures believe that is so.

 

With the question of the meaning of suffering also comes the understanding of healing. This is something that is again approached from different positions in differing cultures. And sadly, the very clear differences in health care systems in different parts of the world highlights the fact that poverty must be eradicated. In our group this morning, two countries have expected life rates of 45-50 years while 3 have life expectancies of 80. That is outrageous. Internationally, this world has the tools to change that but do we have the political will? Let us get behind the MDG’s! It is so helpful, instructive and powerfully challenging to sit in a room with our brothers and learn more accurately of their context and reality.

 

The Indaba group bears similar fruit. We are no longer speaking to each other via the media, shouting at each other from across vast stretches of ocean or speaking about each other. We are talking to each other. We are “seeing, touching, speaking, finding and conversing” face-to-face. We `are explaining each other’s positions, hearing each other’s contexts and realizing each other’s questions face-to-face. Above all, we are listening in the presence of God, seeing the face of Christ in each other, and committing all we do to prayer.

 

This morning the spouses had their mass photograph taken. We bishops get our turn this afternoon. With song, good humour and great photographers, the pictures have been taken and are committed to the archival history of Lambeth Conference. One great moment was the singing of Amazing Grace which I suspect will make it onto the Canadian Church website as part of the “Amazing Grace” project supporting the Council of the North and connecting people to people.

 

Tomorrow bishops and spouses head off in a variety of directions to enjoy the hospitality of Canterbury parishes, the cathedral itself or other more personal plans. Folks are tired so tomorrow will be a Sabbath time.

 

+Philip Poole

Saturday Morning Notes

An early morning walk revealed the two sides of Canterbury -- the steadily diminishing 15th century view and the features of today.

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Lambeth by the numbers
There are 670 registered for 2008 Lambeth Conference. About 880 bishops were invited. About 750 out of 800 eligible bishops attended the 1998 conference. There have been 13,000 viewings of the conference website and 15,000 viewings of photos on a Flickr website.

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Some Background: Windsor Continuation Group chair outlines plans for conference
There will be a three-part process for bishops at the Lambeth Conference to discuss the on-going work of the Windsor Report, according to Bishop Clive Handford, the chair of the Windsor Continuation Group and former primate of the Episcopal Church of Jerusalem and the Middle East.

The process began during the opening plenary session July 20, which was open only to bishops. Handford outlined for the bishops the group's "preliminary observations" since its work began in February. The observations, he said, are meant to "spark off dialogue and discussion."

Among the observations are a "breakdown of trust," "a gap between promise and follow through" at all levels, "the implications that requests and responses are either not fully thought out or they are disregarded," and "litigation and interventions have become locked in a vicious spiral." There is "diminishing sense of communion” that impoverishes witness to Christ, “placing huge strains on the functioning of the Instruments of Communion." Such turmoil "affects our relations with our ecumenical partners, many of whom face similar tensions," the paper concludes.

The next step in the process takes place July 23 at a hearing held by the Continuation Group, during which the members will ask the bishops "where we would like to get to," Handford said. Another hearing July 28, the question will be "how do we get there from here," he said.

"This isn't a quick fix," Handford cautioned. "It's an on-going process."

More about the Continuation Group here.

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Talking to some the bishop's spouses, there seems to be a good many "scales falling from eyes" as the Northern and Southern cultures are compared and contrasted in the Bible study groups. "Imagine," one said, "walking seven days to visit your diocese, or living in a culture where women are required to be totally subservient to men. It still happens today."

And Jane Williams said in her blog this morning:

This morning I met with some bishops’ wives from Congo. The news was both good and bad.

The good news is that most of the country is now relatively peaceful, apart from some areas in the north. There is a new president, and people are feeling cautiously optimistic.

The bad news is that after so many years of war and unrest, the rebuilding operation is daunting. It isn’t just physical building that needs doing, though roads, hospitals, schools, churches have been destroyed, both by fighting and by the earthquake in February. It is also that people’s trust and social relations need rebuilding, and that could take much longer. Many young people have been involved in the fighting, and bear the scars of that, visible and invisible. Many who have carried weapons for so long are not about to lay them and the way of life they have represented down without a struggle.

Many of the bishops’ wives have seen and heard unspeakable things because they were called on to help people in need. They have seen people executed, and had to try to help their families. They have seen women who have been so repeatedly raped that their bodies would need surgery to have any hope of recovery. Most of them will not get it. As for their minds and hearts …

"Bishops’ wives in the Congo are not well off themselves, yet they are trying to help, often whole communities, to basic health and education. They do not have the luxury of opting out of this ministry. The need is too great. All they asked me to do was to pray for them.

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Here's the new Compass Rose Communicator:

Download CRS_newsletter_July08.pdf

And finally, what appears to be an interesting trial balloon.

What do you think?

Meet you at the Old Buttermarket -- right across from the entrance to the Cathedral close -- and we'll discuss it.

 

 

Norris Battin

Compass Rose Society Communications Committee

A Variety of Contexts

July 25, 2008

 

Yesterday's long day, the march and the heat has left many people feeling a little tired today.

 

The March for Witness was an important event for us to experience and has begun to spark a number of new ideas within the Canadian Church regarding how we might strengthen the work we are already doing in the area of the Millennium Development Goals.

 

The Bible Study on John 8:31-59, which contains the words on the seal of the Anglican Communion “The truth shall set you free”, reminded us that Jesus leads us into places of uncomfortableness and will lead us into new understandings.

 

Our Indaba group is engaging in the issue of human sexuality in a way that is both forceful and respectful. We are learning first hand of the variety of contexts in which our Provinces operate.

 

One of the things that the Millennium Development Goals reminds us of is that the actions in one part of the world affect other parts of the world. For example, stripping the rain forests in one place affects the air we breathe in another. Global warming is the result of human actions and affects us all. We are hearing quite clearly that the perceived actions of the church in one part of the world have implications for another. We are interconnected and interdependent as the family of God through Jesus Christ in ways we sometimes might forget. It is good for us to be reminded both of the variety of cultures in which Anglican Provinces operate and the impact our decisions have on one another. My sense is that many of the Indaba groups are entering into some weighty discussions and that a real effort is being made by most people to listen and listen hard to the other.

 

For Compass Rose members, I neglected to mention yesterday that an old friend and co-founder of the CRS Canon John Peterson the former Secretary General and his wife Kirsten, were in attendance at the Garden Party. He enthusiastically greeted members of the society and wanted me to say hello to his many friends. Tonight Jon Bruno is hosting a dinner for the Biehls, Pooles and Norris Battin. Should be fun. Virginia Theological Seminary, which has a booth in the Marketplace, is keen to get reconnected to the Society. They hope to send a representative to the annual meeting.

 

Please keep praying for the Lambeth Conference and the Spouses Conference.

 

+Philip Poole

London Day

July 24, 2008

 

I was up at 5:30 a.m. today for a quick breakfast and then off for what the programme calls our London Day. We drove 2 hours or so by coach through the heavy London traffic to Whitehall Place where, under the leadership and direction of the Archbishop of Canterbury joined by faith leaders form England and ecumenical partners, a sea of purple marched through the core of London to Lambeth Palace. We wanted to raise the profile of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s) and to call the government leaders who signed on to keep their promise. With the Micah Challenge (http://www.micahchallenge.org/) taking a lead for the churches here, we sought to draw attention to the issues of child poverty, disease, gender equality, environment, education etc. that the Millennium Development Goals seek to address. 

 

The facts are, that while some progress is being made, few governments are passionately committed to doing what they said they would do. This march is made all the more significant when one realizes that world Anglican leaders from the wealthiest nations to the very poorest nations joined hands in solidarity, in a cause common to each. (If you don’t know much about the Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s) you owe it to yourself to learn. See http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/) We held placards, held hands, sang and marched. May the march inspire and encourage people of faith and goodwill to meet the MDG’s. Can we do any less?

 

After we all gathered at Lambeth Palace, the Archbishop introduced the Prime Minister of England and the Anglican Observer to the United Nations. I cannot recall a time when I heard a leader from the Western World speak as passionately as the Prime Minister did on the massive issues the world faces. Interrupted often by spontaneous applause, the PM committed his government to the MDG’s and himself to challenge his colleagues in other countries to do the same. We have the capability as a world community to do all of this if we can get out of our self-serving and self-protecting attitudes and work for God’s people everywhere. Let’s pray that we do.

 

After lunch at Lambeth Palace and a time in the gardens, we headed to Buckingham Palace, that icon of England, for tea at the invitation of the Queen. Security was tight as crowds pressed up against the exterior gate taking pictures as the purple people and their spouses made their way into the inner courtyard, through the entrance of the palace and out into the magnificent gardens. We admired the long staircase, the beautiful portraits of royal family members of the past, incredible china cabinets and indeed the efficient and polite staff who welcomed us. Yesterday we were told some 7,500 people joined Her Majesty for Tea and today perhaps 1,500. The size of the gardens made it feel like an intimate gathering and in fact it was most relaxing. Spouses enjoyed a walk around the lake, a visit to the magnificent gardens and a stroll on the well-manicured lawns. Tea or iced coffee (my choice) along with cucumber sandwiches or raspberry tarts, were available under canvas and the staff circulated with water on this unusually warm afternoon. 

 

The Entrance of the Queen’s Guard signalled that Her Majesty was about to arrive. Crowds gathered in anticipation and precisely on schedule. The Queen and Prince Philip arrived on the top steps of the large patio and one of the two bands for this occasion played `”God Save the Queen.” Then Archbishop of Canterbury and the Archbishop of York presented a few couples, chosen because they represent the Communion in some manner, to the Queen and the Prince. Karen and I were extremely honoured to be among this group and we enjoyed a personal moment with this remarkable couple. 

 

The Queen and Prince made their way through the orderly crowd, stopping to speak with a few people, showing genuine interest in each one. The Royal Couple made their way into the Royal Tent where they spoke with the Primates of the Church about issues facing the Communion while others gathered in groups or wandered around the property. Afterwards, one person noted how well the Queen was versed in the Windsor Report and the concerns of the community. 

 

I also spoke at length with a bishop from a diocese that desperately needs a medical clinic. He tells me that if the church can build a clinic the government will pay for the staffing of the clinic. Maybe that is something we could make happen. I will try to gather more information.

 

It was a delight to share this experience at Buckingham Palace with a number of Board Members of the Compass Rose Society.

 

+Philip Poole

 

 

Learning from Brothers and Sisters

July 23, 2008

 

A lively Eucharist in Spanish, with energetic music from Cuba, opened this day. We then gathered for a bible study on the theme ”I am the light of the world”, the story of the “woman caught in adultery” and our Lord’s response. In the reading, a group of leaders seek Jesus’ judgment on the woman. Without a doubt the word “judge” is a complex and multi-layered English word that means different things in different cultures and settings. What is the role of the church when it comes to judgment? What are we to make of “Do not judge lest you be judged yourself?” When we stand before God for the final judgment of our lives what will we say?

 

That study led us into the Indaba groups focusing on the theme “The Bishop and Social Justice”. We heard powerful stories of the realities of people living in situations where water can not be trusted and often is a source of disease; where mothers neglect their own nourishment in order that their children might eat the meagre amount of food available; where HIV/AIDS and other diseases ravage the human body. Somehow the discussions of the important theological issues of human sexuality, when held along side these life and death realities, make me wonder what it would be if we put even half the corporate energy we invest into human sexuality into these life and death issues.

 

The afternoon found us in the first of four scheduled “hearings” opportunities for bishops to address the Windsor Continuation Group with their reflections on the proposed covenant. I did not hear much new I am afraid.

 

Fresh Expressions, a movement launched in England that is gaining traction in much of the world, was the topic of the self-select group I chose. The Diocese of Toronto is already working with Fresh Expressions, which seeks to take the gospel to the culture in new and creative ways. It has had no small success and may help us as we seek to be more mission-minded. “Google up” Fresh Expressions and take a look at what is being done.

 

The evening event sponsored by the Bishop of Toronto gathered together with a group of African Bishops as we seek to build community and strengthen ties with our sisters and brothers in other parts of the world. It was particularly interesting to learn of the ministries and challenges in other dioceses during the talks their bishops gave. The sheer size and lack of transportation of some of the dioceses makes regular contact with parishes and clergy so difficult. I hope this Conference might inspire our diocese to consider entering into additional relationships with other parts of the world where our resources, talents, time and energy might be used in partnership with others for the common good. 

 

The Lambeth Conference is reinforcing what I already knew - that our church in the west has much to learn from our sisters and brothers in other parts of the world.

 

+Philip Poole

Back to Business

The bishops returned to Canterbury last night with some good publicity for their march in support of the Millennium Development goals and still basking in the glow of royalty at the Queen's garden party (her third this week I'm told.) Here's one comment from the Thinking Anglicans Web site about the march:

"We marched not simply as well-fed bishops of the west but as bishops and spouses from (we were told) some 130 or so countries. Many of those marching live in places torn by war, depleted by poverty, threatened by climate change. They come from dioceses where children have no schools, curable diseases kill many and harvests fail. Physically it was a march of 1500 churchmen and women, symbolically it was a march of the 80 million Anglican worshippers we represent and a march for the sake of the billions in whose countries we live and work. Crowds lined the streets and applauded. Some stopped what they were doing and joined us as we journeyed past the great departments of state in Whitehall, past Downing Street and the Palace of Westminster, past the Abbey and over the river to Lambeth."

Our President +Philip Poole and his wife Karen and Secretary General Kenneth Kearon and his wife Jennifer were among those who met the Queen at the garden party. I'm told that there was some talk about, among other things, chapeaus.

I asked seveal bishops today rhe open ended question, "How's the meeting going?" One bishop of my acquaintance told me that his indaba group was having trouble "jelling" while another said that they had developed enough trusy in the group to begin discussing the "elephant in the room, sexual identity."

From the 40,000 foot level, however, two interesting reports: First this from The Guardian's Theo Hobson titled "The Anglican Communion Has Never Been Stranger" and this from the Times, Lambeth Voices: A Panel of Anglican Bishops Shares theirViews... .

I'm also told by a "highly placed source" that the pronouncements of the Windsor Continuation Group are important to pay attention to so I refer you here.

Norris Battin

Compass Rose Society Communications Committee

A Few Images Around Town

On Wednesday we Begin to Settle in

Here's a shot of our stand before work begins. The banners were designed and produced by Canon James Rosenthal at the Anglican Communion office in London. You can make out two piles of red disks, some other assorted give away material and the DVD which tells our story.

Just to show that bishops can be as bad at punning as the rest of us, one quipped today that the red disk should have emblazoned on the back, "I'm a fan of the Compass Rose Society."' Here endith the comments about the red disks -- I promise.

Our routine has been pretty well established. Morning tea time, the lunch break, the return for Indaba groups and afternoon tea time are when we have a chance to see our bishops. Here's what the crowd looks like and my are the fashions colorful!

We finished up this afternoon about 1630. Still not much news about how the political and theological winds are blowing. But the dust up around the comments of the Archbishop of the Sudan calling for Bishop Robinson's resignation produced this quote in the Times from Ruth Gledhill:

"...This represents the hard-line conservative-traditionalist stance at the Lambeth Conference and it is widespread. I wish I wasn't writing this but things here are really not looking good. The Anglican Communion seems to be falling apart in front of our eyes and it is not a pretty sight."

Media hype or reality? Hard to tell talking to our bishops today. It certainly wasn't top of the mind.

After we left the stand, Bob and I visited the "Marketplace", two large warehouse like structures housing  vendors that offer products and services to the Anglican Communion around the world. On the product side, there's a heavy emphasis on books and vestments; service are varied -- everything from Episcopal Relief and Development to Five Talents -- and there's also an admixture of interest groups ranging from Integrity to Episcopalians for Life. The diversity of our Communion is well represented. Bishop Schori was there when we were and we got a snap shot.

Tomorrow the Bishops are off to London to march in support of the Millennium Development Goals and attend the Queen;s Garden party. The stand won't be open, so I plan to send you some more images of Canterbury that I have taken since I've been here.

Tonight's featured pub is the Bishop's Finger -- see below.

 

Norris Battin

Compass Rose Communications Comittee

The Bread of Life

July 22, 2008

 

This morning our bible study focused on John 6 and the “I am the bread of life” statements of Jesus.  It is fascinating to hear of places where bread is not a staple and where perhaps “I am the rice of life” might be more easily understood.  We considered the reality that bread for life is different in every culture but the bread of life is celebrated in every context and available in all cultures.  The centrality of the Eucharist was common to all of us and is a source of spiritual nourishment.

 

The Indaba groups found us examining “Proclaiming the Good News - The Bishop and Evangelism”. Again the contexts and cultural background of the participants led to rich and lengthy conversations which could have continued `for a longer time had it been available to us.

 

In the afternoon no fewer than 21 “self-select” groups were available for bishops to choose from and I chose a workshop on “Shared Mission in Europe” led by the Bishop of London with contributions from ecumenical participants, bishops in communion and Anglican Bishops from Europe.  I was the only North American in the room.  I wanted to learn something of the context of mission in Europe which I take to be a setting far more secularized than Canada is currently.  However, I fear we are headed in that direction.

 

In France, while 75% or so of people respond on questionnaires that they believe in God, only 12% attend church.  In Denmark the figure is only 3%.  The church faces a large number of concerns including issues of mass migration, refugees, the rise of Islam, poverty, climate change and so on.  We learned of a revival of the monastic movement in Russia and an increase of vocations in a number of countries. People are longing for community but are finding their lives overtaken by the stress and frantic pace of life.  We heard of the importance of church buildings as “sacred spaces”, suggesting the church functions as an Inn in society. The church, one voice said, is a critical element of society to help build human dignity and offering a prophetic role in solidarity with the poor.

 

Christianity needs to come to terms with a multi-cultural, multi-faith society as one of many religions, building trust and peace in society.  Interestingly, as is often the case in Canada, people believe but do not belong to a church. One person said he was concerned that people belong but don’t believe, pointing to a constant refrain in this Conference that people need to be led into a deep relationship with Jesus. Our task is, as it always has been, to bring Christ to those who do not know him. I found one particular comment to be very insightful.  “We should not be afraid of a strong Islam but of a weak Christianity.”

 

We concluded our day with a lively worship lead by the church of Brazil.

 

I hope to visit the Marketplace tomorrow, where Anglican ministries, church vestment suppliers and many others are available to inform us of their work.  The Compass Rose Society booth has attracted considerable interest from the bishops and Bob and Norris are wonderful ambassadors for us. Tomorrow’s theme is “Transforming Society: The Bishop and Social Justice”.

 

The conference is very rich indeed and I find myself longing for time and space to process what I am hearing, seeing, experiencing and enjoying.

 

+Philip Poole

In the Dark

It's apparent that those working the stands at Keynes College will get their news about the progress of the Lambeth Conference from the same media that you do.  We're not authorized to go to any of the sessions, and the bishops are too busy -- at least at this early time in the conference -- to stop and chat about the latest in the ongoing political and theological drama. When they do stop, they seem focused on the events of the day that they are participating in -- their Bible study group or the "indaba" groups where they compare notes with other bishops about how they're dealing with the serious issues facing the Communion. Ask a bishop "How's the meeting going?" and you're likely to hear quite superficial but  positive comments, e.g.,"it's really quite good," or "very interesting, so far."

My favorite Web sites where I try to keep up with the "meta" issues of the conference are Thinking Anglicans where you can follow a number of other informative links  and Ruth Gledhill's reportage and her excellent and forthcoming separate blog in the Times. There are other good religion reporters here with varying points of view, but one can only invest so much time in the paper chase. If I get a good tip from a chat with a bishop, I promise I'll break the news here first and then Ruth can credit Compass Rose as her source! And for the news about the meeting as reported by the Anglican Communion news service, check here.

Bob and I had another successful day at the CRS booth. The logistical issues are mostly solved, although a yellow container belonging to Canon Rosenthal remains undelivered to our stand in Keynes. It holds some material that we'll be using after the red disks are gone as they keep flying out of the booth (pictures adjacent -- click to enlarge.)

Norris Battin

Compass Rose Society Communications Committee

Be Not Afraid

July 21, 2008

The Eucharist this morning was led by the Church of Korea, a church which faces significant challenges in its homeland. Their Mother’s Union formed a superb choir.

This morning’s Bible study focused on John’s version of Jesus walking on the waters and saying to the disciples “be not afraid”. We were invited to reflect on what situation we find ourselves fearing.  Fear can paralyze us into inaction, but the voice of Jesus says “be not afraid”. Again this morning I was humbled to hear the stories of ministry in very different contexts than my own. Some face the prospect of death for proclaiming the good news of Jesus.  Others live in what I might describe as extreme poverty and deprivation. Some are seeing church attendance decline as economic prosperity increases - not dissimilar to ministry in the west it seems to me!

The Indaba groups met today, twice, for the first time. We are considering the Windsor report, not with the idea of decision but with the idea of discussion.  I anticipate that the discussions may be frank, direct, challenging and difficult as we listen hard to those with whom we might disagree, recognizing that we are all children of God and people loved by God. The early reviews seem to show that the conversations will vary from group to group. I pray that in all these activities God will be present and will be with us to lead the way.

Dinner provided a change of pace, as a Maori group from New Zealand celebrated a birthday of one of their members with great singing in the dining hall. The Australians, with whom they are clearly friends, offered some good natured gibes and the Maoris responded with what appeared to be an animated battle song.  The dining hall erupted with laughter and applause - a welcomed respite from the serious matters under discussion during the day.

The Market Place opened today and will present an opportunity to see many of the ministry networks and affiliated groups present at Lambeth Conference. Outside the Bishop’s meeting hall the Compass Rose Society has an excellent booth ably staffed by Bob Biehl and Norris Battin both of whom are doing a good job representing us.

This afternoon the Canadian House of Bishops met (as did every national House) to touch base. A highlight was the honouring of Bishop Ron Ferris, the Bishop of Algoma and a strong leader in the church, who is retiring in the fall. The speeches made were moving as we marked Ron’s strong contribution to our church. I will miss Ron and his fun-filled wife, Jan, as they take well deserved leave of us to enjoy their retirement years.

The conference agenda is very full and it is impossible to get to everything offered. It is a rich program and I am thrilled to be a part of it all.

+Philip Poole

Where Prayers Have Been Offered for 1400 Years

July 20, 2008

It would not be overstating it to say that members of the Lambeth Conference awoke early this morning with an air of excitement. After a quick breakfast, over 1300 people (Imagine the logistics!) boarded coaches as we headed with most of the bishops vested in cassocks, to robe for the opening service of the Lambeth Conference in historic Canterbury Cathedral.  We are deeply aware that some of our number have chosen not to attend the Conference. They are missed and we are diminished by their absence.

The precincts were accessible only by invitation. It was somewhat eerie to walk down the road immediately in front of the ornate and ancient west entrance with streets filled by police security, Canterbury volunteers (they have been marvelous helpers) and people protesting one thing or another in virtual silence, a far cry from the hustle and bustle of previous visits. The protesters could show us signs expressing their concerns but were prevented from verbally making their points to us, as they have on other occasions. Through the large wooden doors we made our way into the area immediately in front of the awe-inspiring cathedral structure, past the west doors and into the Crypt area, which is large enough to handle some 700 people vesting for this service easily. After an hour or so of standing we were guided in processions by the Cathedral vergers in the longest procession in which I personally have ever been involved. I believe it took over 20 minutes for all of us to enter. The opening hymn, “We sing a love that sets all people free”, set to the familiar tune “Woodlands”, filled the cathedral as bishops, spouses, invited guests and dignitaries, including the former Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey, joined the stunning Cathedral Choir in  offering praise to the Lord of all.  The service featured the languages of the Anglican Communion with drums, African music set to Latin words (quite a feat), a stunning gospel procession led by the Melanesian Brothers and Sisters with the gospel carried in a small boat, a wonderful sermon offered `by the Bishop of Colombo ( Sri Lanka) and rousing music.  It was a magnificent offering to God.

As we sang I was aware that different cultures, different theologies, different economic backgrounds, different languages and different genders joined in harmony to make a joyful noise unto the Lord. Here was the Anglican Communion at prayer and worship together in one place celebrating our common love of Jesus! The clear treble sound of the boy’s choir, with the expertise of the other choral sections, lifted our hearts in praise of the Lord. The service, which is available for viewing on the web, is well worth the time to witness this historic gathering. To say that this service was moving would be to understate the obvious.  Here, in a cathedral which has witnessed reformations, murders, and wars; in a place where some of the giants on whose shoulders we now stand proclaimed the faith in their time and now are buried; where prayers have been offered for some 1400 years, we in our turn worshipped with the episcopal representatives of the Anglican Communion.

Extraordinary and humbling!

+Philip Poole

The First Day on the Stand, We Bear Witness

The Compass Rose Society (hereafter CRS) has come to Lambeth hoping to gain new members. We think that explaining what we do to 600+ Anglican Bishops in attendance will help us do that, so we've got a small booth (used interchangeably here with stand) where we can discuss our mission and distribute materials describing it to the worldwide episcopate.

The first day on the stand was like many other I have spent in the course of my years attending medical conventions for the pharmaceutical and medical device companies that I have worked for. Here's what I expected: a long day with lots of peaks and valleys in the booth traffic and a few hiccups with the logistics of the booth setup. I wasn't disappointed as that was exactly what happened. Several boxes of our material were in the limbo of the University of Kent campus but we finally tracked them down late this afternoon and we're still awaiting the arrival of the DVD that tells the CRS story. Fortunately we have 12 more days to recover from these small disasters.

But  now the good news. We have a spectacular location at the entrance of the Keynes College exhibit area ( from were President Poole greets you -- at left). All the bishops pass by the stand on the way to their meetings, and tea is served in this area twice a day. We owe Secretary General Kenneth Kearon (at left with Treaqsurer Bob Biehl) many thanks for securing this prime spot for us.

Second, a new issue of the "Compass Rose Communicator" has been published for the meeting and we're handing it out to everyone who will take one along with an invitation to membership -- I hope to post the new "Communicator" soon.

And finally, once again it's all about the "red disks" When  you see a CRS "red disk" you ask yourself, "what in the world is that for?" About twelve inches in diameter, deep red in color, made of  (environmentally safe and awfully "green") very flexible vinyl, one sideshows shows the CRS logo and the reverse offers a short description of our mission (I'll post a photo later if I can take a good one.) Mouse pad? Place mat? Dart board? Well maybe,but actually, it's...a fan! For those  meetings where the temperature slowly rises  to defeat the air conditioning, these are, many have said here,"a God send." Provided at a previous meeting the CRS attended, Bishop Poole remembered their popularity and suggested we offer them again.

By the end of the lunch break we had given away over 200 "red disks" and were sold out for the day. Fellow booth-manner Treasurer Bob Biehl has, not surprisingly, suggested that we sell them for a pound a piece beginning tomorrow and raise the price as the week goes by -- increasing temps are forecast.

Best of all, traffic was strong today and we introduced many of the bishops to CRS. I hope some will join us.

For a quick summary of what's going on at the meeting, click here.

A few more images:

Rev. Canon James Rosenthal with Treasurer Biehl

 

The real Canterbury Tales

A Turneresque view of Canterbury

Norris Battin

Compass Rose Communications Committee

The Woman at the Well

July 19, 2008

I confess to sleeping in this morning, but I did enjoy the sound of the singing coming from the “Big Tent” during this morning’s Eucharistic. A quick bowl of cereal and I was off to the Bible Study today focusing on John 4 and the woman at the well. If you read it for yourself you might better relate to the questions we were asked to consider. “What does the phrase “it was necessary for Jesus to go though Samaria” mean for you?  What are the stages of mission in the story that lead people to a confession of faith in verse 42?

After considerable discussion and many shared insights we concluded that God sometimes invites us to go to a place we don’t want to go - a place of fear - to teach us and to undertake His reconciling work.

The Bible studies consist of 8 bishops (the spouses hold separate ones) and most of them seem to be working well. Imagine the job of having to translate into 7 different languages for all the worship, addresses and bible studies. One of the moving moments in the various worship services is the invitation of the presider for all to offer the Lord’s Prayer each in his or her own language. It is a sea of sound and one not dominated by the English voice. Pentecost has sprung to mind every time we offer the prayer Jesus taught his disciples.

Our retreat, sadly, ended today. The Archbishop spoke to us this morning of the role of Bishop as leader. We were reminded that we are to lead where Jesus has first led us.  Bishops are at once followers of Christ and leaders, preparing the way for others to follow Jesus. His 45 minute talk was followed by a time of silence and noon day prayers which marked the conclusion of the retreat. I have found Archbishop Rowan’s words challenging, stimulating and of spiritual meaning to me personally as I continue to reflect on how I might be a better bishop in the work God has called me to

.

Tomorrow morning a sea of purple cassocks, rochets and chimeres (the white and red choir vestments of Anglican bishops) will process into Christ Church Cathedral Canterbury for the opening Eucharist of the formal Lambeth Conference. I am certain it will be an impressive sight.  Here, in a setting which has offered Christian Worship for 1700 years, bishops from around the Anglican World will pray with the Archbishop of Canterbury as we begin two weeks of continuing bible studies, small group gatherings, self selected sessions, “fringe groups of special interest” and large plenary sessions to address a variety of issues facing the church and the world today. My colleagues from Toronto, Bishop Yu and Ellen Johnson are both leading bible studies. Bishop Johnson leads an Indaba group (a Zulu word meaning gathering for purposeful discussion.) These groups will allow for every voice to be heard, praying that under the guidance of the Holy Spirit issues at hand are fully defined and understood by all. We will explore that which holds us together and come to deeper understandings of the issues of the day. Similar processes to Indaba, very different from the usual Western parliamentary procedure, can be seen in cultures of the Pacific, some indigenous communities and among Quakers. It will demand that we listen and listen hard to those with whom we differ to see where the Spirit is leading us. I look forward to these Indaba groups.

I suspect many reports will emerge in the press on our gathering and ask that you remember that press reports by their nature can not capture all that is happening

.

During the Conference there will be a Market Place where Anglican ministries of all sorts will display their work. The Compass Rose Society will have a booth in the area in which the bishops are meeting. In addition “fringe groups”, special events sponsored by a bishop to express a particular concern, will be offered. A highlight will be a trip to London and an invitation to Buckingham palace for the Queen’s Garden Party, preceded by a march through London Streets by the bishops, accompanying the Archbishop, in support of the Millennium Development goals.  It will be a full, challenging, interesting, exciting, and I suspect tiring, two weeks

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Please pray for the Archbishop, Bishops, Spouses and all involved with this Lambeth Conference, that God the Holy Spirit will be active in our midst; that we will have a listening and discerning ear; that bishops will emerge better equipped for their particular ministry and that the church of God might be strengthened as a result

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+Philip Poole

The Last Retreat

July 18, 2008

This morning started with a Eucharist in the big tent at 7:15 and then breakfast with Bishop Patrick and Kathy Yu and Paul Kwong (Archbishop of Hong Kong and Patrick’s friend from the days when they attended the same Sunday School class). We are all staying in the same “townhouse” with a shared kitchenette.  There’s only one shower stall in our building but so far there have been no fights!!

We headed off after breakfast to a Bible Study focusing on John 1:19-34. This is John the Baptist’s ascertain that he in not the Messiah. We learned during this study of some of the challenges other bishops work with. One bishop lives in a diocese with no schools and with local fighting between groups that places him and his family in no inconsiderable danger. Proclaiming the gospel in such a setting makes the Biblical injunction “be not afraid” take on new meaning. Another bishop lives in a diocese with no roads and another uses sea transport to get around `his diocese. Today the last member of our group joined us and we are complete.

After the bible study we took coaches for the second day of retreat at Canterbury Cathedral.  Again we have the whole precinct to ourselves and access to the entire facility.  Led by the Archbishop, we were called upon to reflect on what it means to be a bishop in community, in fellowship with each other and in communion in the worldwide Anglican Church.  In the afternoon session were reminded of the words of an early Father of the church who said, “A single Christians is no Christian at all.” We know a single Bishop is no Bishop at all. We were reminded that in the New Testament there is no single apostle, but always in the scripture two or more go on the journey together. This conference is deeply aware that over 100 bishops have chosen not to attend and we pray for them and for reconciliation each day.

On a lighter note I was delighted to find a Starbucks just outside the Cathedral Close and enjoyed a coffee there with the Bishop who coached me during the days I was enrolled in what we fondly call “Baby Bishops School.” Bishop David Jones, a Suffragan Bishop in Virginia, is a wise, experienced and humble man from whom I learned a great deal. It was fun to get caught up with him

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The day at Canterbury (our last retreat day there as tomorrow we meet on campus at Kent University) ended for the second day with Evensong sung by the men and boys of the Cathedral Choir. They were, of course, wonderful and when the choir master unleashed the volume of the voices the sound was glorious.

Bishops together are great singers. We concluded with “The day thou gavest Lord has ended” and I am sure I saw the great roof of Canterbury Cathedral raised a few inches higher as our voices, together with the choir, lifted praises to God. Tomorrow we focus on Hebrews 10 19-25.

+Philip Poole

The First Bible Study

July 17, 2008

 

Adjusting to a university residence room proved a challenge last night, so I awoke earlier than I had hoped for. (Okay, let’s be honest, I didn’t sleep well).  The first stop of the day was to the big tent for an early morning Eucharist. I have been impressed with the quality of singing and even the early morning hour did not prevent hearty songs of praise being offered to God.

 

After breakfast I began my Bible study with eight bishops from a variety of locations around the world.  One of the bishops looks after an area so remote that no electricity is available and people exist as what he called subsistence farmers. The offering from Sunday worship at his parishes consists of very little money, but gifts of produce are brought to the altar and offered to the Lord, the giver of all. Very few clergy are willing to live in such isolation and he is finding it a challenge to meet the spiritual needs of his people. Once again, we in the West are so blessed and once again have so much to learn from those who live in such poverty. The bishop did not complain. He spoke honestly of the context in which he ministered and of his abiding faith in the gracious love of God that his people experience. Other bishops in different places face different challenges.

 

After introductions all around, we looked at the famous prologue from John reflecting on two questions. What is your earliest memory of the prologue from John and how has it affected your ministry? Each bishop was able to identify an early memory of this powerful piece of scripture. You might think for a moment of when you first encountered John 1:1-18.

 

Then we were off by coach to Canterbury Cathedral to begin a retreat for Bishops only led by the Archbishop of Canterbury.  The Dean of Canterbury, Robert Willis, who will welcome the Compass Rose Society for our annual meetings in November, greeted all the bishops. The cathedral was closed to everyone but bishops and the precincts seemed a little strange without the international visitors who arrive annually by the hundreds of thousands. Founded over 1700 years ago this World Heritage site is in many ways the spiritual home of the Anglican Communion. The Archbishop’s two addresses spoke directly to the role of the bishop in the life of the church and the world.  Times for silent reflection and directed prayer followed.  There was also time to explore this space which is so rich in history. I was able to explore the site of the murder of Thomas Becket and the tombs of Archbishops and royalty.  

 

Music in this high-ceilinged, long building was extraordinary, with the sound of the voices reverberating long after we finished singing.  Taize music, South African choruses and familiar hymns were sung with great gusto and lent an air of excitement to our time. A picnic lunch, with bishops sitting casually on the grass in the courtyard of the International Study Center, spoke to me of the Anglican Communion - eating, talking, meeting and sharing. There seems to be a good spirit developing here in the mother church of the communion.

 

The Spouses began their conference with Jane Williams and I have not yet heard about that event.

 

Our time in Canterbury Cathedral for today ended with the men and boys choir leading us in Evensong. The voices, as you can imagine, were marvelous as the music supported an atmosphere of prayer and spiritual refreshment. Tomorrow will be the second day of the Bishop’s retreat and I cannot wait!

 

+Philip Poole

Arriving at Canterbury

July 16, 2008

 

After a quick farewell to our wonderful hosts in the Diocese of Southwark, we boarded a coach to make the two hour `trip to the University of Kent. The arrival scene was one of holy chaos as the excellent crew of volunteers was overwhelmed by the 650 bishops and 550 spouses who seemed to arrive all at once!!  Long lineups (or ought I say queues?) afforded opportunities for people to greet old friends and meet new folks from around the world. Eventually we were issued the identification that will serve as our “pass” for the weeks here and the keys for the dorm rooms that will be home for a while. It has been three and a half decades since I spent any time in university residence and not much seems to have changed!!

 

Our opening gathering was held `in a large tent capable of seating at least 1500 people. Excitement filled the air and the singing just added to the wonderful feeling that marked our initial event. Our worship and music over the next two weeks will reflect the styles and languages of our international church.  Interpretation services are being provided in seven languages.  What has been so highly anticipated for so long has now arrived. The opening words `of welcome by the Archbishop and his wife Jane, who is hosting the Spouses’ Conference, were followed by a variety of introductions of the people who have worked so hard to bring the dream of this conference to reality and the instructions to us outlining the days ahead.

 

The first few days of this event which has its official opening Service Sunday in historic Canterbury Cathedral the mother church of the AnglicanCommunion will se the bishops being “on retreat” led by the Archbishop ofCanterbury.

We are focusing bible studies on the “I am “ statements of Jesus from the wonderfully rich and multilayered Gospel of John. I can not overstate how much I am looking forward to sitting at the feet of Archbishop Williams as this holy, devote, deeply spiritual, theologically astute humble and humorous man elucidates his wisdom on the fourth gospel. I expect that as we leave this place in early August the retreat will be remembered as `a true highlight. To be able to pray, reflect, share, learn, keep silent and be spiritually refreshed in the historic Christ Church Canterbury will be a real treat.

I have seen already many friends of the Compass Rose Society. Canon Ken Kearon who has played such a major role in preparing this conference and has a significant role within it said a brief hello as he scurried about ensuring all was in order. I greeted Compass Rose friends from South Africa, Hong Kong, Canada, Brazil, United States, Mexico and Spain, among others and was reminded of the far reaching bonds of unity the CRS enjoys.

I hope to enjoy many hours sharing with them our commonpartnership as Anglicans in the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Compass Rose Society has a booth at the Conference which I hope will spread our story a little further abroad.

So we are underway. In the words of the Most Reverend Sir Ellison Pogo the chair of the Lambeth design group, “The purpose of the Lambeth Conference 2008 is to enable the Bishops of the Anglican Communion to discern and share more deeply their Anglican identity and to become better equipped for their Christ-given task of being leaders in God’s mission.”

May God bless the bishops and their spouses as they meet and may the purpose of this conference be fulfilled for the good of Christ’s Church.

+Philip Poole

Our Last Day in London

July 15, 2008

 

It’s our last day in London before heading to the University of Kent to attend the Lambeth Conference.

 

Karen and I visited an elderly cousin nearby in the area of Richmond.  She is well into her nineties and was able to share memories of relatives I have never met.  I learned, for instance, that a great, great (not sure how many greats are needed here!) grandfather had worked with Lord Graves Simcoe in establishing the site for Fort York, now known as the city of Toronto. One relative, a mill operator, insisted that each day in his factory open with morning prayers and he paid his staff if they attended them!  I learned that family members provided property for the establishment of four churches in the Diocese, served as Superintendent of a Sunday School with over 1000 students and served as church wardens in a number of parishes. It was good to hear of the faith of my forefathers and mothers and of the impact they had in the growth of the Diocese of Toronto.

 

My cousin is frustrated by a body which, after 94 years, is failing her while her mind remains sharp.  She spoke of plans she has for new and impressive projects in her field of expertise which says to me that she is a person engaged in the process of living, not dying.  I enjoyed listening to stories of a bygone era and of people I have never met.

 

There was an entrance to Kew Gardens a mere 5 minute walk from her flat. Karen and

I set out on a 90 minute walk past historic sites, palaces established by Elizabeth I and Henry VII and bridges along the River Thames.  The path was filled with runners, cyclists and walkers while the odd sculler rowed the still waters of the Thames.  Londoners seem much fitter generally than we in North America.  We saw more herons in one place that ever before while swans, geese and other birds floated by. Karen was enamored with the rich variety of plant life that surrounded the pathway through Kew Gardens.  Towards the end of this walk we came upon a large green area. Young boys were testing their cricket skills on lawns adjacent to a chapel dedicated to St. Anne by Queen Anne. This chapel has remained under the patronage of each successive monarch.

 

The church was closed, but a kind construction worker was hospitable enough to open it up so I could have a look.  What a rich history is contained in that building and what a lovely setting for worship it was.

 

History, listening and hospitality are three key words as we prepare to gather with Bishops from around our Anglican Communion. History is of value in a church that understands scripture, tradition, reason and bishops as some of the keys to its identity.  History informs the present by reminding us of the lessons of the past. Every good driver checks the rear view mirror before heading out on the journey. Likewise, Lambeth will need to reflect on its history.

 

A few years ago, at an event held for the Compass Rose Society members in historic Lambeth Palace, Archbishop Williams suggested that it was important for people to listen (and listen hard!) to those with whom they disagree, to see if the Spirit is trying to tell them something.  Lambeth bishops will be well advised to listen hard, listen carefully and listen respectfully to their fellow bishops, remembering that we are all children of our generous God.

 

Hospitality builds relationships.  The hospitality Karen and I experienced in Southwark has formed and nurtured relationships that are leading to new understandings and lasting respect.  I hope Lambeth hospitality will lead to similar relationships for all involved.

 

So tomorrow we are off to Lambeth.  I feel enormously privileged to be invited. I recognize the anxiety, fear and trepidation many persons feel as we enter this conference knowing many people have chosen not to attend.  We are all wounded by this, but it is not surprising that the Body of Christ is wounded. We will keep them in our prayers and hold to the hope that in Christ reconciliation will be possible.

Bishop Poole's Pre-conference Message

Greetings from historic, wet, busy, expensive and charming London, England.

 

Karen and I (shown at the left by the altar in Salisbury Cathedral on the Compass Rose Society's visit there last October) arrived a few days early for a bit of a holiday in before the events of the Lambeth Conference. Without doing a travelogue here are a few brief highlights of what we have experienced so far.

 We toured a museum dedicated to life in London during the world wars and the blitz. The sights, sounds and smells of the display drove home the reality that people are very resilient during times of extraordinary challenges. I can not imagine what it would be like to live with the constant companions of air raid sirens, bomb shelters, ration books, destroyed homes, fires, enemy aircraft, gas masks, death and the like. So many were displaced, including children who were sent to safer areas of England.  The sad reality is that too many people on the face of God's earth live today with many of the same companions.

 The tower of London was a nasty place of beheadings, torture and imprisonment. Two chaps bearing my surname etched their thoughts into the stone walls of the awful, tomb-like space into which they were crowded and from which they could hear the enthusiastic crowds gathered for the public beheadings. On this sad and bloodied site stands a Royal Chapel - a symbol of resurrection on a site of crucifixion. It is a gathering place today for staff and others to worship. Thomas More is said to be buried here. It’s curious that a Roman Catholic who refused to renounce his faith is honoured by the church which I suppose must take some measure of responsibility for his death. In the center of this historic and somewhat austere chapel (certainly austere in relationship to the other Royal Chapels) is an empty tomb, unused by the noble man and woman for whom it was built. With Oliver Cromwell ransacking houses of worship, the brave chaplain of the day had the font cut into three pieces and buried in this unused tomb. It was "found" years later, restored and today holds the waters of baptism through which people enter into the Christian faith. Plaques on the walls remember men and women of the military who have fought for their King and Country as well as the distinguished Beefeater's who have cared for this place for many decades.

St. Paul's Cathedral was a welcoming place to visit and listening to the superb choir at Evensong was a delight and a time for welcomed restful worship after a day of walking for miles along the edge of the River Thames.

The Tube is a massive connection of tunnels, with beginnings in the mid-1800’s, which now transports frantic Londoners from place to place. It is where the world meets but it is not a place for idle chatter.  The stress etched on the faces of people is evident. Stress is part of so many of our lives and I sometimes wonder if this is the way God wants us to live our lives!! This space which must moves millions of people everyday was also the place of safety where many gathered to seek shelter from the bombs of the Blitz. However, Piccadilly and Oxford Circus at rush hour are not places for the faint of heart.

 The Globe Theater, where Shakespeare is said to have toiled, is one of the finest places in the world to see traditional Shakespearian works performed.

 The Royal Albert Hall, Queen Victoria's tribute to her dear husband, includes a massive statute at the edge of Kensington Park that is imposing to say the least. I wonder if Victoria ever imagined that within the walls of the Royal Albert Hall, where outstanding music performed by the world’s greatest virtuosos would be the home to professional tennis matches today.

 The pre-Lambeth Hospitality has taken us into the Diocese of Southwark, located on the south side of the Thames, historically the place of entertainment for the north side of the Thames. This diocese, which encompasses over 300 churches, contains a wide variety of hospitals, a prison, a huge power plant, enormous wealth, economically challenged areas, historically important sites, enormous immigration and encompasses Lambeth Palace the London home of the Archbishop of Canterbury. Karen and I have been welcomed by Bishop Richard Cheetham and his wife Felicity in a warm and loving manner. The Diocese of Southwark is similar to the Diocese of Toronto with three suffragan bishops overseeing with the Diocesan Bishop, Tom Butler, over 300 churches. They face the same kinds of challenges and undertake faithful ministry in a diverse area. The Cheethams are hosting one of the Bishops of Zimbabwe, Wilson and his wife Chipa. The stories he tells of the regime at home amplify what we are reading in the popular press. Keep Zimbabwe in your prayers.

 This morning the suffragans from Toronto joined bishops from Brazil, Zimbabwe, Mexico in a Eucharist in the magnificent cathedral bordering the Thames and across the river from the London Tower. Here William Shakespeare and John Harvard (founder of Harvard University) worshiped. Shakespeare's brother is buried here.

Archbishop Carlos Touche Porter, Primate of Mexico, preached. He quoted the Anglican World magazine article which described his diocese through the eyes of the Compass Rose visit there last year (at the left, he's shown leading the pilgrims in Mexico City) . Mexico has a growing vibrant church faithful to the proclamation of the gospel. Those who were able to join the Mexican Mission Trip of the Compass Rose Society will remember the marvelous Christian hospitality Carlos extended.