Archbishop Robin Eames of Ireland called the next Lambeth Conference "a defining moment for Anglicanism" when he addressed the Anglican Consultative Council during its meeting Oct. 10-20 in Panama City, Panama.

The Lambeth Conference, a gathering of Anglican bishops from around the world, meets every 10 years and will take place in 1998 in England.

"It will determine what we are and where we are going," Archbishop Eames said. The Church of Ireland primate is chair of the Inter-Anglican Theological and Doctrinal Commission, which he described as both trying "to discover more what it means to be an Anglican," and to understand the perceptions of the inter-relationships of the Anglican "instruments of unity."

Archbishop Eames said the Lambeth Conference and the whole Communion will be asked to reflect on the concept of koinonia (communion) and whether the commission has argued a persuasive case for the concept to be taken seriously.

He spoke of the Virginia Report, which is in the final stages of preparation prior to presentation at Lambeth. He said the first five chapters of the report are a theological exploration of the meaning of communion with reference to the doctrine of the Trinity, the unity and order of the church, and the unity and community of humanity.

"We have to recognize how binding decisions can only be made at the level of a province or in some cases at the level of a diocese," he said. "How do we discover the mind of Anglicanism? How do we protect and enhance international consultation? It is from the junction of such questions with our theological reflections that the concept of reception becomes prominent."

The report asks a number of questions about the role of the Archbishop of Canterbury, including whether he must be a member of the Church of England.

Archbishop Eames said the Communion must find a way of giving a greater voice to the laity, who though they are the great majority of the Communion, are virtually voiceless through the "instruments of unity."

The Rt. Rev. Simon Chiwanga, Bishop of Mpwapwa, Tanzania, was elected chairman of the A.C.C. in the first round of balloting.

"Simon Chiwanga's election is clearly representative of the growth of the Anglican Church in Africa, as well as indicating the Communion-wide perception of Africa's spiritual and theological leadership," said the Rt. Rev. Mark Dyer, an Episcopal Church representative to A.C.C. and a faculty member at Virginia Theological Seminary.

Bishop Chiwanga is a former minister for education in the Tanzanian government, and is a long-time member of the A.C.C. The Rt. Rev. John Paterson, Bishop of Auckland, New Zealand, was elected vice chairman.

The Rev. Canon John Peterson, secretary general of the A.C.C., addressed the group and said Anglicanism has much to offer the world both in spiritual and social justice terms.

"New Age advocates and fundamentalists do not have anything over us as Anglican Christians," he said. "Ours is a timely and vibrant faith, ours is a living God, ours is a powerful testimony, ours is a global family."

Canon Peterson also told delegates that they need to listen to each other and talk about problems they face, highlighting sexuality, Islam and fundamentalism.

On Sunday, Oct. 13, more than 2,500 Panamanian Anglicans joined delegates in a long procession through city streets to a sports hall where the Eucharist was celebrated by the Rt. Rev. Clarence W. Hayes, Bishop of Panama.

The Most Rev. George Carey, Archbishop of Canterbury, was the preacher, recalling historical examples in Christian history where the church had become too bureaucratic, which had the effect of reducing leadership "to shoring up and institution rather than inspiring people for adventure."

The A.C.C. includes delegates from every Anglican province, and meets every two or three years.

(Anglican Communion News Service contributed to this article.)