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
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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
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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
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