Lambeth Conference worship highlights diversity, conflict
Episcopal News Service, Canterbury. July 20, 2008 [072008-02]
Solange De Santis, Mary Frances Schjonberg, and Pat McCaughan
More than 600 Anglican bishops worshipped on July 20 within the ancient, sand-colored walls of Canterbury Cathedral in a two-hour Eucharist that illuminated the worldwide church's diversity and also acknowledged its current theological conflicts.
Bishop Duleep de Chickera, of Colombo, Sri Lanka, said in his sermon that the church must be "an inclusive communion for anyone and everyone, regardless of color, gender, ability or sexual orientation," but he also called for "discipline and self-scrutiny" since "Christ calls us to be hard on ourselves."
With the late-morning sun streaming through three stories of clear and stained-glass windows, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams led the service at the enormous cathedral's high altar, not far from a plaque listing his 103 predecessors, beginning with St. Augustine in 597.
The bishops and their spouses are attending the Lambeth Conference, the decennial meeting that usually includes all the world's Anglican bishops. The conference, which opened on July 16 with two-and-a-half days of retreat led by Williams, includes Bible study, discussion groups, plenary sessions and worship, and runs until August 3. This year, about 200 bishops are not attending, many of whom have made a point of boycotting the gathering due to differing opinions on homosexuality, the ordination of women and the authority of Scripture.
De Chickera noted that "we are a wounded community … the crisis is complex and it can't be resolved instantly. The journey ahead is long and arduous … but we trust in God who makes reconciliation possible."
He referred to the Gospel reading from chapter 13 of Matthew, in which Jesus tells the parable of a field that bore both weeds and wheat. The two grow together, but at harvest, the weeds are burned and the wheat -- God's community -- is gathered into the barn. "If we uproot the unrighteous, then none of us will remain. We are all amidst the weeding and the weeds. I suggest we stay together and grow from our common heritage, regardless of our differences," said De Chickera.
He also challenged the church to be a "prophetic voice … regardless of where we serve in the world," speaking for "those who for cultural, economic, military reasons cannot speak for themselves, or at tremendous cost." He mentioned crises in Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Sudan, Afghanistan and Iraq, and said the church must "call into accountability those who abuse power."
The church, he said, "is one institution that does not live for itself" and he called upon the bishops to "hold onto these words" as the "crux of Anglican identity and spirituality."
De Chickera concluded his sermon with a low, rhythmic Buddhist chant as the cathedral bells tolled.
After the service, Bishop Neil Alexander of Atlanta said he was "particularly moved" by de Chickera's sermon since it "lifted your soul," however, Bishop Robert Duncan of Pittsburgh said the inclusion of the chant was "very, very troubling" since it was an "invocation of something other than the God we know."
About 1,500 people attended the service, including bishops' spouses, ecumenical and interfaith representatives from about 75 denominations and Christian communities, civic and political guests, media, staff and volunteers. Television screens throughout the long nave bore video transmissions of the service.
Clergy were stationed throughout the cathedral to administer communion, but Duncan said "a number of primates" did not receive. He did not identify them. At other events, primates have refused to take communion because they are in disagreement with others.
Bishop Mark Beckwith, of Newark, noted the singing of the hymn "All are Welcome" after communion, but referred to the exclusion of New Hampshire Bishop Gene Robinson, who is in a same-gender partnership. Beckwith said, "my heart was broken because, in fact, we are all not welcome here."
Duncan commented that "unity and truth always have to go together. There's a particular truth claim about Jesus so you simply (can't have) unity at the price of 'everybody welcome,' but everybody's welcome to hear the good news of Jesus and to accept it or not."
Later in the afternoon, about 33 bishops, including Robinson, were part of the procession at a Eucharist in a nearby field within view of the cathedral towers that celebrated the gifts of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered Anglicans. The Rev. Susan Russell, president of the gay-support group Integrity USA, said in her sermon that her listeners should "tell the truth about the very real gaps that exist among the experiences, world views and theologies of many members of the Anglican Communion."
After the service, retired bishop Christopher Senyonjo of Uganda said that "being part of humanity, humans should be working together in spite of differences." African churches have been prominent in the conservative movement. Davis MacIyalla, director of the gay-support group Changing Attitude Nigeria, said, "it was important for me to be here today to celebrate Christ's love without any form of discrimination. It was important for me to be here as an African Anglican."
The cathedral service began with a 30-minute procession of Anglican pageantry that included robed people with such titles as "ostiarius" (church doorkeeper), "virger" (church attendant), "taperers" (candle carriers) and "vesturer" (head virger).
The cavernous interior of the cathedral reverberated to the sound of organ preludes before the procession began. Primarily built in the 14th century, it occupies a site that has seen Christian worship for 1,400 years and has been a source of pilgrimage since the murder of Archbishop Thomas Becket in 1170. Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, written in the 14h century, tell the story of a group of pilgrims on their way to the venerable shrine.
As the bishops entered in rochet and chimere vestments -- a white robe with ruffled sleeves and red overgarment -- the boy choristers of the cathedral sang a cappella, lending a delicate, ethereal sound to the scene. At the last Lambeth Conference, in 1998, bishops wore simple purple cassocks at the opening service since some refused to wear rochet and chimere to protest the first-time-ever inclusion of female bishops.
In previous years, bishops processed according to province, but this time they mingled, carrying over the fellowship exhibited during their recent retreat, said the Rev. Ian Douglas, a member of the conference design group, at a news conference held after the service.
A brass fanfare greeted Williams, clad in white and gold mitre and vestments bearing the cross of Canterbury, a cross with equal, short arms enclosed in a circle. In a brief welcome, he asked the Holy Spirit "to renew our lives."
The service reflected the church's international nature, with bongo drummers accompanying the choristers for several prayers, including the "Kyrie." One Bible reading was in Korean and the Gospel was read in French. The intercessions were read in English, Hindi, Portuguese, Japanese and French.
The New Testament was borne to the center of the church by a procession from the order of Melanesian Brothers and Sisters, from the South Pacific Solomon Islands. The men were barefoot and bare-chested and dressed in grass skirts, the women in colorful shifts. Several held the book on a little wooden boat and danced with it down the aisle, while others played a sweet, silvery melody on wooden flutes.
The altar cloth bore the compass rose symbol of the Anglican Communion and the Gospel reader, the Rev. Lusa Nsenga Ngoy, stood over the symbol in the floor of the cathedral.
Further down the nave, near the main entrance, a plaque asked the reader to "Remember Chas. Thomas Longley, DD, Archbishop of Canterbury 1862 to 1868, under whose primacy the first Lambeth Conference was held, 1867."