A somber group of bishops gathered Sept. 20 in Burlington, Vt., to discuss the impact and implications of globalization at their annual fall assembly.

In welcoming the 135 bishops, many of whom were accompanied by their spouses, the Most Rev. Frank T. Griswold, Jr., Presiding Bishop, said that the long- selected topic was even "more pertinent" following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks [TLC, Oct. 7].

A common theme throughout the early stages of the gathering was: "Why?" Various speakers, such as Denise Ackerman, wife of the Bishop of Quincy, noted that others around the world have asked that same question when confronted with other monumental tragedies. Mrs. Ackerman particularly noted the current AIDS crisis in South Africa.

The horrific tragedy has touched participants in ways both large and small and will continue to do so long into the future. Participants learned of one unintended consequence from a scheduled speaker, the Rev. Christopher Duraisingh, a native of India who is professor of applied theology at the Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Mass.

On his way to the conference, security agents at Logan Airport in Boston confiscated a laptop computer belonging to Fr. Duraisingh. The computer contained, among other things, the materials Fr. Duraisingh intended to use during his presentation to the House of Bishops. Without his notes he was forced to improvise.

Bishop Griswold elaborated further on the link between globalization and terrorism during a sermon delivered Sept. 23 at St. Paul's Cathedral in Burlington.

"In what ways do our own interests and their uncritical pursuit affect other nations and the welfare of their people?" he asked. "How are we as a nation 'under God,' as we call ourselves, being invited to reorder our life according to God's compassion for 'humankind and for every creature?'"

As part of an effort to improve ties between members of the worldwide Anglican Communion, the Most Rev. David Mukuba Gitari, Archbishop of Kenya, accepted an invitation to attend the entire meeting which concluded Sept. 26.

Episcopal News Service contributed to this report