General Synod member says orthodox attendance at Lambeth would give impression of being “double-faced”

Letter to the Church of England Newspaper

Sir, I attended an international conference of orthodox Anglicans some months back. There was a lot of heated debate on the wisdom, or otherwise, of attending, or not attending, Lambeth 2008. A lot of the arguments revolved around strategy. Recent letters in The Church of England Newspaper are of the same mould. The arguments for attending are as strong as the arguments for boycotting the conference. It seems to me, that under such circumstances, we need to consider three key issues.

Firstly, the question of integrity. If I am unpersuaded as to the best course of any action, then I must act in accordance with my conscience. Which course of action would best reflect what I truly believe in my heart? If orthodox bishops really believe that Anglicanism as practised in many parts of the Western world is a denial of Scripture and is inconsistent with apostolic teachings, then they cannot, indeed must not, share communion with the leaders of that new pseudo-Christian religion. On that count, I cannot but express my highest regard for those primates and bishops who choose, at great personal cost, not to attend Lambeth 2008.

Secondly, the symbolism of gathering together. I am of Chinese origin and grew up in Asia. Like many Eastern cultures, eating together is more often than not a symbol of friendship, oneness and agreement. To my Asian eyes, to see orthodox and heterodox ‘princes’ of the church spending 3 weeks together in an apparent show of unity distresses me, as it would many in the Global South. It gives the impression of being ‘double-faced’. So I salute those primates and bishops who mean what they say and say what they mean and stay away. Not to attend speaks more of the intent and desire of their hearts to be faithful to Scripture than to attend.

Thirdly, loyalty to fellow Christians in the battlefield. It must not be forgotten that there are thousands of faithful Anglicans in hundreds of parishes, and one diocese, who are in the midst of spiritual warfare and have been scarred by the wounds inflicted by those self-same heretical bishops going to Lambeth. Rightly, primates and bishops from the Global South and Sydney have extended their right hand of fellowship and Africa and the Southern Cone have graciously granted them ecclesiastical protection. To ask for these primates and bishops to attend Lambeth is to ask them to forsake and abandon their suffering brothers and sisters who are one with them in heart and mind. So I salute the loyalty of those primates and bishops who have chosen to be faithful to their true brethren and not attend Lambeth.

Even at this late stage, the Archbishop of Canterbury has in his power the make the one decision that would persuade the majority of primates and bishops to attend, thus saving the worldwide Anglican Communion. If he were to declare that three days or more would be dedicated to debating the issues that are tearing the Anglican Communion apart, with the intention of approving, or otherwise, a resolution based on Lambeth 1.10, I believe there would be majority attendance. But, as the Archbishop himself has acknowledged, it would not be that kind of conference. 1998 might prove to be the last of that type of Lambeth Conference.

Dr Chik Kaw Tan Member of the General Synod Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffs

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