Going to Lambeth – again: A Pastoral Reflection

Tuesday, 1 Jul 2008
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From Bishop Philip Huggins, Vicar-General

Today’s Age (1 July) has a huge picture of Archbishop Peter Jensen and Bishop Gene Robinson, with a split down the middle.

The banner headline is: “A Church Divided”.

If this has become the public image of our Anglican Church, then it impacts on us even though we may have nothing to do with it all!

I was at the 1998 Lambeth Conference, then as Bishop of Grafton.

It was very illuminating, amidst such a diversity of people, united by our discipleship of Jesus.

As is generally the case with Conferences, it was the small group Bible Studies and deep conversations which had the most impact.

However what most people remember about 1998 Lambeth is the Resolution on Human Sexuality.

I was in another Commission to the one dealing with this matter. I was therefore unprepared, like many, for how that Commission’s nuanced discussion ended up in a plenary debate - in a very large hot tent, with people wanting to make an impact, positioned close to the few microphones.

It was all very odd - hundreds of mostly middle-aged men listening to ideological speeches, about matters so deeply complex and personal.

When we finally came out of the tent, I found myself between two events. On one side, a Nigerian Bishop was publicly seeking to ‘exorcise’ a member of the gay/lesbian group, still carrying his placard. He was resisting this crude and belligerent action, done without prayerful preparation.

On the other side, a US Bishop was speaking angrily into a waiting set of microphones about how Lambeth resolutions weren’t binding on him, and would make no difference to his support of gay/lesbians in his Diocese.

Little were I and others to know that our next ten years in Church leadership would be so affected by these oppositional voices.

In a sad way it has all been down-hill from there. Various efforts to create better “listening and understanding”, have been drowned by the polarised and strident voices.

Much of our quiet good work in Anglican parishes and agencies has gone under-appreciated. Our public image has been of a divided Church in crisis.

Friends outside the Church ask us about it. People at work ask those they know to be Anglican. We are all somewhat diminished, put on the defensive, trying to defend all the good that is done by the Anglican Church. But, all the while, we know the relentless negative media of our Church’s division shapes the public perception of us.

Coming on top of earlier negative publicity about our Church regarding sexual abuse cases, it’s not surprising that morale amongst clergy and laity is affected.

It is hard to keep one’s head clear, and keep focussed on all the good one sees Anglican’s doing, prompted by the Holy Spirit.

Just last Sunday, for example, through the ministry of Revd Lilian Morgan, I presented Ron Millard with a thank you for his 50 years as a Lay Reader at St Paul’s Deans Marsh (picture). Such stories as Ron’s capture the beauty and resilience of our Diocesan life.

For myself, preparing for Lambeth 2008, I expected these weeks to be difficult.

The GAFCON Conference was organised to just precede Lambeth, in order to maximise its effect. Its resolutions reflect the path taken by its key organisers.

There are Melbourne Anglicans at GAFCON. When they return, and we Bishops are back from Lambeth, there will be an opportunity to discuss what both GAFCON and Lambeth mean for our life as Melbourne Anglicans.

In the first instance, these discussions should take place privately and quietly. Our Anglican Church has now had ten years of people shouting at each other from entrenched positions. It hasn’t got us far. It looks very much like what we see in the wider world.

We owe it to ourselves to do better. Be a little more counter culture. We certainly know our Saviour Jesus, who prays for our unity, wills us into deeper Communion.

For the sake of the Gospel we must be more patient and careful with each other.

For the record, notwithstanding my disquiet about the debate, I voted for the 1998 Lambeth Resolution on Human Sexuality. In the subsequent ten years all the Australian Bishops have abided by this Resolution. Our General Synod’s debates and resolutions have also kept consistency with Lambeth 1998 as regards Human Sexuality. That is, endorsing traditional understandings and encouraging a listening process.

At a personal level, I have stayed quiet in public debate, as a result of a private vow.

Having seen, in pastoral work, a linkage between the suicide and other suffering of young people as a result of homophobia, I resolved to avoid any comment that might have this outcome, albeit unintentionally. My work as a Bishop has made me acutely aware of the vulnerability of young people, including some from Christian families, who feel conflicted about their sexuality.

What they, like us all, need more than anything, is the assurance of Jesus’ love for them just as they find themselves.

The assurance that there are holy angels watching over them as guardians of their peace in Jesus.

The assurance that God can guide them, as they make the journey into greater self-knowledge and knowledge of God.

The further assurance that, if and when they cross the threshold into an Anglican Church, there will be grace and peace in the community of the faithful.

It is said that a society is only civilised to the degree to which it looks after its most vulnerable citizens. It is from the perspective of these vulnerable young people, that I look at the debate in our church, and pray we might be more civilised.

Striving to be a Church at mission, our Archbishops prayer is most apt now, and for coming weeks:

“God of community,
We give thanks for this beautiful and vibrant city:
For its diversity of people and cultural life,
For its industry and commerce,
For its hospitals and agencies of care,
And for its places of learning, recreation and worship.

God of compassion,
we pray for all who live and work in this city and for those who visit here:
open our hearts
to welcome the stranger,
shelter the homeless,
befriend the lonely,
care for the needy,
and offer hope to those in despair,
for these are your people.

God of community,
Give of life, of love and hope,
hear our prayers for the welfare of this city.”
Amen

You may also include in your daily devotions this prayer for the Lambeth Conference:

“Pour down upon us,
O God, the gifts of your
Holy Spirit, that those
who prepare for the
Lambeth Conference may
be filled with wisdom
and understanding.

May they know at work
within them that creative
energy and vision which
belong to our humanity,
made in your image and
redeemed by your love,
through Jesus Christ our
Lord.”
Amen