Primates Address A Broad Agenda
Episcopal News Service. May 11, 1989 [89088]
LARNACA, Cyprus (DPS, May 11) -- In his opening address, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev. and Rt. Hon. Dr. Robert Runcie had spoken of the proximity of the Conference venue to some of the most deep rooted of human conflicts. There was the tragic division of Cyprus itself, the sorrows and proper aspirations of the Palestinian people, and the plight of all peoples and communities of faith in Beirut. He said that he had spoken with some of the refugees.
Noting that some of the Primates' agenda would deal with conflict in the Church, Dr. Runcie said that if Christians themselves could live together, they might have something to say to the wounded world the Church should serve and heal.
During the opening session of the meeting, a presentation was made by the host Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East.
The Most Rev. Samir Kafity, President-Bishop of the province, welcomed the Primates and recounted to them something of the history and current ministry of the small number of Christians in the vast area of his province.
He stressed that a critical ministry of the Christian Church in the midst of all the conflict and pain was to build bridges between the different faith groups so they could work together toward reconciliation and peace.
The Primates were also welcomed by the Rt. Rev. John Brown, Bishop of Cyprus and the Gulf, who gave a brief survey of his multilingual, multicultural diocese. Evangelism
Evangelism in the different cultures of the Communion featured in discussion. The Lambeth Conference 1988 recognized it as "the main work of the Church" and asked Anglicans, along with other Christians, to make the closing years of the millennium a "decade of evangelism." It was agreed that the "launch date" for the decade would be December 1990 (Decade 1991-2000).
They discussed a report on the Decade of Evangelism prepared for them by the Mission Issues and Strategy Advisory Group of the Anglican Consultative Council.
Before the close of their meeting, the Primates released a four-page statement on social justice issues reflected from around the Communion.
From their meeting room, not much more than 100 miles from Beirut, the Primates decried the violence there and supported the territorial integrity of Lebanon and the unity of its people. They offered their support to "all Lebanese religious communities, be they Christian, Moslem, or Druse." With their thoughts very much with Terry Waite, the envoy of the Archbishop of Canterbury held hostage for more than two years, the Primates called on "all states with influence to use their good offices to secure the release of hostages of whatever nationality." Terry Waite attended the last Primates' meeting in Toronto in 1986. Archbishop Robert Eames, Primate of All Ireland, also issued an appeal for the release of the Irish teacher, Brian Keenan.
The Primates also denounced Israel's handling of the Palestinian uprising in occupied Arab areas.
After giving thanks for the initiatives that have been taken toward independence for Namibia, the Primates commended to the Archbishop of Canterbury the appointment of a high level Anglican delegation to Namibia to offer pastoral support.
They also asked that he should seek for ways in which the Communion can play its part in Christian initiatives for monitoring the upcoming elections there.
They said that they were deeply distressed by the heavy loss of life that took place in the initial stages of the implementation process, and by the massive presence of the South African Defense Force in northern Namibia, which has posed a serious obstacle to the peace process.
The Primates supported the Church of the Province of Southern Africa in its work toward dismantling apartheid, and went on to call attention to the plight of the detainees. They also protested against the "sinister intentions" of the Disclosure of Foreign Funding Act, which makes it difficult for organizations outside South Africa to offer financial support to Church and other anti-apartheid groups within the country.
The statement outlined a process toward stability in South Africa, which included the lifting of the state of emergency and the acceptance of a bill of rights. Though the precise forms of pressure were not stipulated in their statement, the Primates did say that "... there remains a need for maximum forms of effective economic and diplomatic pressure for the international community."
The relief efforts and peace initiatives of the Sudan Council of Churches were commended and peace talks between government and the Sudan Peoples' Liberation Army encouraged.
The Primates expressed their encouragement to the President and government of Burundi in their determination to restore peace in the country, and assured them of their prayers in their continuing work.
They also gave particular assurances that their prayers were with suffering people of Sri Lanka.
In a strong statement, the Primates deplored "the intense suffering inflicted on the people of Nicaragua by the 'Contra' war - a war financed and sponsored by people sitting in the safety of foreign capitals."
Ties of friendship between the Anglican and Orthodox Churches were affirmed during the celebration of Orthodox Easter. The Primates attended the Good Friday ceremony of the Epitaphion in Nicosia and an ecumenical reception hosted by Archbishop Chrysostomos and members of the Holy Synod of the Church of Cyprus. Of special significance was the invitation by the Archbishop of Cyprus for the Archbishop of Canterbury to read the Gospels of the Resurrection in English on Easter Day in the cathedral in Nicosia in the presence of the president of the republic. Because of the known difficulties over the ordination of women, the Archbishop of Canterbury stressed the continuing importance of dialogue between the Anglican Communion and the Roman Catholic Church. He spoke of his plans to visit Pope John Paul II in September 1989. The Primates welcomed his invitation for one of their number, the Most Rev. Joseph Adetiloye, Archbishop of Nigeria, to join him in Rome.
The meeting had at its heart daily acts of worship, Bible study, and the renewal of personal friendship between its members.
The Primates reviewed many of the 69 resolutions passed by the Lambeth Conference 1988. This work will be continued by the Standing Committee of the Anglican Consultative Council, meeting in Larnaca from 1-7 May. The Primates will meet jointly with the standing committee for the first day of its discussions.
The Most Rev. Michael Peers advised that the Anglican Church of Canada hoped to host the second International Conference of Young Anglicans in July/August 1993. This would be part of the celebrations to mark the centenary of the foundation of the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada.
The Primates received a report on the Anglican Center in Rome and discussed proposals to enhance the academic and representative functions of the Center. Financing and priorities of many future inter-Anglican activities were also discussed.
The 1989 Larnaca Primates' meeting has been the fifth formal meeting since the first Primates' meeting at Ely, England, in 1979. Twelve of the 27 Primates in Cyprus were attending their first Primates' meeting.
Prior to the Cyprus gathering, those Primates from provinces in East Asia and the Pacific Basin took the opportunity to focus on their regions and develop some of the resolutions passed at the previous year's Lambeth Conference.
The 27 Primates were joined by four bishop-moderators of the United Churches of Bangladesh, North India, South India, and Pakistan. The United Churches were formed from Anglican and other Churches.