The pastoral letter of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev. George Carey, to the entire Anglican Communion, was read at churches throughout the world on Sept. 27. The two-page letter addressed the outcomes of the Lambeth Conference.

"Thanks to the prayers of many, and the work of the Holy Spirit in our midst, the vast majority of those present agreed that (the Lambeth Conference) had been very worthwhile," the archbishop said.

Issues related to the Third World churches, the fastest-growing segments in the Anglican Communion, predominated. "Some of these problems press hard only on some parts of our Communion," he said, "but they must be of concern to us all as members of one family."

Concerning war-torn areas, the archbishop said, "And many of us will never be the same again because we have been enriched by the stories those people have shared with us, of leadership under pressure, and of the goodness of God sometimes in the context of great hardship, poverty and persecution." He cited the Bishop of Kitgum's "simple but moving account of the death of his wife, Winifred, blown up by a landmine" and "his courage in maintaining a faithful witness in an area (Uganda) where terrorists regularly abduct children and take them away to train them as killers."

He also addressed international debt, saying "much more will flow from our commitment to press the moral argument for the relief of the burden of unpayable debt."

He acknowledged that at times "'face to face' encounter (was) difficult and potentially divisive. This was particularly so with regard to our discussions about human sexuality ... Prior to the conference no province had asked for homosexuality to figure as a major item on the agenda, but, nonetheless, the issue was debated hotly and we found that our diversity of theology and culture, often a source of blessing, was becoming a 'differing' that could so easily have resulted in bitter confrontation."

Recognizing the pain endured in some parts of the church over the "sexuality resolution," Archbishop Carey said, "the listening must go on, not only to scripture but also to one another." He said "one of the greatest benefits of this conference will be our experience as bishops of pursuing a oneness of aim in the midst of diversity. That, I believe, has strengthened rather than weakened our Communion."