The 21 members of a recently created commission had their profile and prominence within the Anglican Communion raised significantly when the primates asked the Inter Anglican Theological and Doctrinal Commission (IATDC) to prepare a report on mutual accountability among the worldwide provinces.

The Most Rev. George L. Carey, Archbishop of Canterbury, announced the creation of the commission in a press joint release on Feb. 22 with the Rev. Canon John L. Peterson, secretary general of the Anglican Communion.

"The commission will study themes related to the nature and basis of communion and the implications of membership in a fellowship of church in communion with the See of Canterbury," the press release noted.

The commission includes three members of the Episcopal Church: the Very Rev. Paul Zahl, dean of the Cathedral of the Advent in Birmingham, Ala.; the Rev. Donald Henry Kortwright Davis, rector of Church of the Holy Comforter in Washington, D.C.; and the Rev. Anne Katherine Grieb, professor of New Testament at the Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, who is listed as observer.

Six bishops will serve on the commission. The chairman is the Rt. Rev. Stephen Sykes, retired Bishop of the Diocese of Ely in England and currently head of St. John's College and seminary in Durham.

"We anticipate taking evidence and contributions from a wide range of people," said Bishop Sykes. "This theological question has been right at the center of ecumenism for a number of years."

The commission's first meeting is scheduled for Sept. 13-19 at Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, Va. Bishop Sykes said he anticipated wide circulation of a draft report in order to incorporate feedback in the final version.