Eames Optimistic About Primates Gathering
Episcopal News Service. October 15, 2003 [031015-1]
Dan England, Director of Communication at the Episcopal Church
[ENS] Speaking just inside the gates of Lambeth Palace, where 37 primates of the Anglican Communion are meeting, the Most Reverend Robert (Robin) Eames, Archbishop of the Church of Ireland, said today that he is "optimistic that the Anglican Communion will emerge from this stronger than it has ever been." He characterized the meeting as exhibiting "openness, frankness and honesty" and an eagerness to "maintain the Anglican Communion."
He emerged from the closed conference after the heads of every province of the Anglican Communion, save one, had met for seven hours. Eames said that each participant had been "telling the story of how the provinces have reacted" to the "developments that the Archbishop of Canterbury thought necessary to bring to our attention. "Those stories represent the cultural differences right across our Communion." He emphasized his opinion that the primates were "moving towards a consensus...to maintain the collegiality, cooperation and the common faith" and said repeatedly that the bishops had expressed their desire to "to maintain the Anglican Communion." He described predictions of the breakup of the Communion as "unfounded."
Later today, the bishops will meet for Evening Prayer, followed by dinner. A working session will take them into the evening, which will end in silent prayer and Compline. A final press conference will be held tomorrow at Church House in London, tentatively scheduled for 6 p.m. London time.