Everywhere I go, from meeting people at a diocesan convention to speaking to a parish adult group to answering the telephone to opening my mail to calling subscribers, Episcopalians seem to be asking the same set of questions, like the following. I'm bold enough to try to provide some answers as well.

1. What effect will the resolutions of the Lambeth Conference have on the Episcopal Church?

Virtually no effect. The sexuality resolution, which garnered all the publicity when it was adopted at Lambeth [TLC, Aug. 30], has generated the most interest. It rejects homosexual practice as incompatible with scripture, and it states that it cannot advise the ordination of non-celibate homosexual persons or the blessing of the relationships of committed same-sex couples. The bishops of the Episcopal Church who believe it is appropriate to take such actions will continue to perform such ordinations and to give permission for such blessings to take place. Small groups of persons may appear at these ordinations to make protests, but they will have no effect. Opponents of the resolution will remind us that actions of Lambeth are recommendatory, not binding.

2. What about the resolution which states that it's all right for Anglicans to be in opposition to the ordination of women as priests and bishops?

That, too, will have no effect, because the Episcopal Church already has made a canonical change which states, in effect, that one must subscribe to the ordination of women. At this time the American church is the only one of the 38 Anglican provinces which has taken such action, although the Canadian church is in a similar situation.

They might stir up some controversy. Look for conservative American bishops to bring the sexuality resolution to General Convention in hopes that it will be adopted. They haven't a chance. While the House of Bishops might listen politely to the politicking of some of their brothers, there is only a remote chance that such legislation would reach the House of Deputies. If it got that far, the measure would be defeated by a wide margin. Clergy and lay deputies would not look kindly on such a resolution. It's already being tested in a few diocesan conventions this fall. 3. Will these resolutions have any effect on the Episcopal Church's General Convention?

4. Then what do you think will happen if the church, as most people predict, sanctions these ordinations and blessings when it holds the next General Convention?

That's a more difficult question to answer. I look for some sort of split - perhaps a more formal designation of the split which already exists. Persons on both sides of the issue will call the other side schismatic, and folks will declare themselves out of communion with the other side - individuals, parishes and perhaps even a few dioceses. Both sides will claim to be in communion with Canterbury.

5. Haven't we heard such dire predictions in the past?

Yes we have. We heard predictions of division over ordination of women and prayer book revision. And while the church lost members over both issues, the sexuality matter seems to be the "line in the sand" which, when crossed, will lead to a much larger separation.

6. Did the American church learn anything from Lambeth? I think so. I think we learned even more the importance of staying in dialogue with persons who disagree with us but are faithful members of the body of Christ. We learned much about how Anglicans in other parts of the world are willing to witness to their faith in sometimes difficult and dangerous circumstances. And I think, even if many of us are not willing to admit it, we have learned how far out of touch the American church is with the vast majority of Anglicans.

David Kalvelage, executive editor