English Evangelical Bishops urge Primates attendance at Lambeth Conference

AN OPEN letter from a group of evangelical bishops in the Church of England has urged those Primates threatening to boycott this year's Lambeth Conference to attend the 10- yearly meeting. In an open letter to the Archbishops of Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and the Presiding Bishop of the Southern Cone, the clerics, who describe themselves as 'the evangelical bishops in the Church of England', say they share the Primates' 'increasing sorrow and alarm at the developing situation around the Anglican Communion', and highlight their support for the Windsor process and the idea of a pan-Anglican Covenant.

The bishops give their backing to the Archbishop of Canterbury's Advent Letter which encouraged the Global South Primates to attend Lambeth, and point to Dr Williams' determination to base the conference on Scripture. They go on to offer their support to the Archbishop 'in his immensely difficult task of developing the life of our Communion in new ways of mutual understanding and support', and urge the Primates 'to be present to help us do this'.

The Bishops acknowledge that the whole Windsor process has been 'tortuous and frustrating and much slower than we would all have wished', but warn if it is abandoned it 'would inevitably split apart those who share an equally high regard for Scriptures and for the historic faith of the Church'.

They continue: "We cannot believe this to be the mind of the Spirit or indeed that you yourselves would really want such a result. "We urge you therefore to take the long route, waiting for God to work through the processes that are already in train and praying for him to work his purposes in us and through us together. "We long to share with you in fellowship and long to share with you in fellowship and in celebration at Lambeth and, beyond that, we look to sharing with you in our common calling to proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord throughout the world." Read more
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