For his Sunday sermon on June 26 to the Anglican Consultative Council, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams developed a theme from the Book of Acts, reminding all of the provincial and theological factions present there is “no sign by which you can tell in and of yourself that you are acceptable to God” and calling to the Anglican Communion table all who are “hungry for God’s love, God’s truth and God’s healing.”

His sermon, part of a diocesan celebration for ACC-13 held at St. Mary’s Church in Nottingham, followed a day full of elections, as well as reports about the status of women, the protection of children, drought in Africa, the rights of ACC lay delegates and budget hearings. (Due to mistakes by The Living Church news editor, an earlier web version of this report mistakenly included some subjects which were actually addressed on Monday. The initial web article also incorrectly stated this was Archbishop Williams’ second sermon to the ACC.)

Speaking without notes, Archbishop Williams told the congregation of 300 that the gospel “gives comfort neither to the legalist nor to the libertine.” Christians cannot “win the grace of God by being good” nor does the “grace of God make no difference to you.” The Church, he explained, consisted of the people “who have not found the nerve to walk away; who have not had the nerve to say in the face of Jesus” I have no need of you.

Sounding the refrain “nerve to walk away” five times to the delegates, Archbishop Williams asked the Communion to stay together in the midst of its tensions. The Church must continue to be a “witness to solidarity” in a fallen world. “We are part of the Body of Christ and the world needs the Body of Christ. It is hungry for truth and for love.”

In a world where human solidarity is seldom seen, even this degree of unity could be a sign of hope, Archbishop Williams said. “We are here to be fed with that truth and that love in the body and the blood of the Lord in his holy sacrament. As we open our hands to receive that gift, so we open them to one another and to the world. We do not have the nerve to walk away. So much the better for us.”

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

For the text of the Archbishop of Canterbury's sermon, click here.

More TLC News From the ACC Trienial:

· Size and Composition of ACC Committees Will Change

· Primates Included as Ex Officio ACC Members

· ACC Opts for Compromise on Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

· ACC Lauds Church’s Ethical Investment Program

· 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

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