Unofficial representatives from the Episcopal Church and Anglican Church of Canada dined with, but were later seated apart from the Anglican Consultative Council delegates for the opening orientation session on June 18. The 10-day meeting is considered by many to be a “make or break” one for the Episcopal Church and its relations within the Anglican Communion.

The Anglican Communion News Service (ACNS) has also adopted an “arms length” stance towards the Episcopal News Service (ENS). Unlike prior ACC meetings, no ENS reporters have been seconded to the ACNS to prepare news reports on the proceedings.

Stung by press reporters impugning their impartiality, ACC staffers told The Living Church the meeting has been prepared in a spirit of openness and fairness to the whole Communion and in faithfulness to the wishes of the primates.

While denied voice and vote, the Episcopal Church’s delegation will be permitted to dine with the other delegates. The Rev. Robert Sessum, rector of Church of the Good Shepherd in Lexington, Ky., and Ms. Josephine H. Hicks, a member of executive council from North Carolina, attended the opening dinner and orientation session held at the University of Nottingham’s Business School. The third representative, the Rt. Rev. Catherine S. Roskam, Bishop suffragan of New York, is expected to arrive later. Bishop Roskam is also a member of the seven-member presentation team from the Episcopal Church. The other six presentation members are not expected to arrive until Monday.

After dinner, New Zealand Bishop John Patterson, chairman of the ACC, welcomed the delegates and observers from 37 Provinces to Nottingham (only the Philippines is absent) and introduced the local organizing committee led by the Rev Canon Andrew Deuchar, the former Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey’s adviser for Anglican Affairs and currently a vicar in Nottingham.

The formal “roll call” and adoption of the agenda takes place Sunday morning, June 19.

(The Rev.) George Conger is in Nottingham, England reporting for The Living Church from the triennial meeting of the Anglican Consultative Council.

Full Coverage From the ACC Triennial:

· Council Somber After Vote to Exclude North Americans

· ACC Suspends North American Churches

· Vote on Resolution to Expel North Americans Scheduled

· Communion's Spotlight is on Presentation Panels

· Archbishop Says Common Ground Still Exists

· Status Quo at ACC Holds on Second Day

· Withdrawn Status of North Americans Noted

· ACC Opening Session Surprise

· ACC Meeting Opens with Dinner and Orientation

· Bishop Roskam to Serve in Two Capacities at Nottingham

Photos from Nottingham

· U.S., Canadian representatives seated apart

· The Rev. Canon Kenneth Kearon, ACC secretary general

· The Rev. Canon Michael Burrows of Ireland

· New Zealand Bishop John C. Paterson, chairman of the ACC

· Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams

· Bishops Moxley and Roskam

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