The Archbishop of Canterbury said the Anglican Communion is "significantly stronger than when we began," when he spoke to members of the media near the end of the Lambeth Conference. The Most Rev. George Carey said the conference's resolutions on sexuality and international debt were positive developments of the three-week gathering at the University of Kent in Canterbury of nearly 750 Anglican bishops.

"We have had the opportunity of wrestling together over the three weeks with issues which are profoundly important for the life of people and churches around the world," he said. "We have heard marvelous stories of fortitude and heroism in the face of a multitude of problems, and have tried to offer an honest message to the Communion and to the wider world, of where our common understanding rests at this moment."

The archbishop said the bishops had been open about acknowledging their differences, and expressed concern that the resolution on sexuality had caused pain to many persons. "I can only try to assure them of my commitment to continue to listen, to try to understand more of their experience of the church, and I invite them to continue the journey with us, however painful, and I ask them to listen to the voice of the church as much as the rest of us must listen to them."

In one of the last business sessions, the conference adopted overwhelmingly a resolution which states that bishops should not be compelled to ordain or license women as priests. The resolution, titled "Unity of the Anglican Communion," was produced by Section Three and states, "that there is and should be no compulsion on any bishop in matters concerning ordination or licensing."

The resolution will have no effect on the Episcopal Church, which already has changed its canons to ensure women can be ordained to the priesthood in every diocese.

"At this Lambeth Conference, I have been received with a gracious and generous spirit," said the Rt. Rev. Victoria Matthews, Bishop of Edmonton (Canada). "As one of the first generation of women bishops, I ask that we keep this same spirit of graciousness and generosity as we continue the process of open reception [of women clergy]."

The Rt. Rev. Barbara Harris, Bishop Suffragan of Massachusetts, said, "While the language seems gracious, it contravenes the canons of the Episcopal Church and the discipline of the church in the Provinces of Canada and New Zealand."

"The resolution recognizes the traditionalist position as one that is expressive of Anglican loyalty as much as the position that favors ordination of women," said the Rt. Rev. Geoffrey Rowell, Bishop of Basingstoke (England).

"I doubt the House of Deputies in the American church is going to take that one sitting down," said the Rt. Rev. Catherine S. Roskam, Bishop Suffragan of New York.

The bishops also adopted an amended resolution which reaffirms the declaration by the 1988 Lambeth Conference which bars bishops or priests from exercising episcopal or pastoral ministry in another diocese without permission of the local bishop or ecclesiastical authority.

Another resolution addressed euthanasia, and said it should not be permitted in civil legislation. "Life is God-given and has intrinsic sanctity, significance and worth," the resolution declared, and that it is "neither compatible with the Christian faith nor should it be permitted in civil legislation."

"Those who advocate euthanasia show little awareness of the Christian experience that people may be redeemed and transfigured through their suffering," said Archbishop Peter Hollingworth of Brisbane (Australia).

Among other resolutions, the bishops condemned Pakistan's blasphemy law and called for release of prisoners unjustly accused under it, called for peace in Uganda's civil war, called upon the Security Council of the United Nations to review economic sanctions against Iraq and Libya, and decided against dedicating the first 10 years of the new millennium to a new theme.

The final plenary session of Lambeth featured an address by David Ford, professor of divinity at Cambridge, who also had spoken at the opening plenary. He suggested themes for bishops to consider when they go home: appreciation for how prayer and worship unites the Anglican Communion, and support for the Communion's networks.

On the Feast of the Transfiguration, the Eucharist for the day was celebrated by bishops of Nippon Sei Ko Kai (the Holy Catholic Church in Japan). The liturgy featured elements of reconciliation and forgiveness, occurring on the anniversary of the dropping of the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima. A statement issued by the Japanese church said the church confesses to God and "apologizes to the people in Asia and the Pacific that we did not admit our fault immediately after the end of the war, and have not actively called for reconciliation and compensation until today."

The Rev. Canon Susan Cole-King, daughter of Bishop Leonard Wilson, former Bishop of Singapore, was the preacher. She recalled how her father had been taken captive by the Japanese army in 1943 and tortured for months.

"My father's story is a transfiguration story, for himself and for his captors," she said. "After the war he returned to Singapore and had the great joy of confirming one of his torturers."

The 13th Lambeth Conference concluded Aug. 8 with a Eucharist celebrated by Archbishop Keith Rayner, Primate of the Australian church, with Archbishop Carey as the preacher.