The leaders of the Anglican Communion have only two business sessions remaining to craft an action plan that addresses long-simmering tensions that were brought into sharp relief in 2003 following the 74th General Convention of The Episcopal Church. A resolutions committee led by the Primate of the Indian Ocean, Archbishop Ian Ernest, has been working to prepare a consensus declaration in time for the conclusion of the Feb. 14-19 primates' meeting.

The fact that they remain divided was symbolically expressed in events surrounding the Feb. 18 Eucharist at Christ Church Cathedral in Zanzibar. In one of several breaks with custom, staffers told the press after the service that no group photograph would be taken. Conference organizers declined to offer an explanation.

The primates' vestments, as well as the con-celebration and reception of the Eucharist, also spoke to their divisions. In a further break with precedence where the primates either all vested for choir offices or for Eucharist, in Zanzibar the primates dressed in a range of styles from business suits to Eucharistic garb.

Two primates wore suits to the service, four dressed in a plain purple cassock; nine wore cassock albs; two wore cassock, surplice and tippet; and 15 wore Eucharistic vestments. Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori wore a cassock alb with purple cincture. Archbishop Peter Akinola of Nigeria did not attend the service due to an injured back. He remained in Dar es Salaam for the day, conference organizers said.

Six primates attended the service but declined to receive the Eucharist.

The service also suggested a leftward shift from the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev. Rowan Williams. In his sermon to the cathedral congregation, he offered oblique criticisms of those not receiving the sacraments, and encouraged an inclusive church centered round love. At the June 2005 Anglican Consultative Council meeting in Nottingham, England, and at the February 2005 primates' meeting in Dromantine, Northern Ireland, Archbishop Williams' tone spoke strongly to the need for order and discipline within the Communion, deprecating the actions of The Episcopal Church.

Two of The Episcopal Church's staunchest allies within the primates' meeting will have left before the final document is completed. Archbishop Mauricio Andrade of Brazil flew to Rio de Janerio on Feb. 18 to attend a meeting of his province's House of Bishops, while Southern Africa Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane returns to Capetown at noon on Feb. 19.

The Living Church also learned that the Most Rev. Badda Peter Sugandhar, Moderator of the Church of South India, never arrived at the meeting. Previous reports that the Archbishop of Myanmar (Burma) had arrived late proved false. Visa problems prevented the departure of the Most Rev. Samuel San Si Htay from Rangoon. Thirty three of the 39 primates will be present for the conclusion.

No business sessions were held on Feb. 18 as the primates sailed two hours by boat to Zanzibar to celebrate a solemn Eucharist at the Cathedral Church of Christ, also known as the Universities Mission to Central Africa (UMCA) Cathedral. Considered the most "Catholic" of the traditional mission societies, the UMCA heritage was evident in the color, music and liturgy of the Holy Communion service drawn from the 1662 Book of Common Prayer.

Over 600 worshippers packed the Cathedral, built in 1878 on the site of Zanzibar's former slave market in Stone Town. Archbishop Williams served as preacher, Archbishop Donald Mtetemela of Tanzania served as celebrant and the bishops of Zanzibar and Dar es Salaam served as deacon and sub-deacon in the elaborate Anglo-Catholic service which was conducted in both English and Swahili.

In high ritual style, Archbishop Mtetemela sung the liturgy, as clouds of incense arose from a censer held by the former Archbishop of Zanzibar, John Rahamdhani. The altar service reflected an ecclesial style seldom seen in The Episcopal Church, with copes, maniples, zucchettos and other finery. Yellow roses covered the front of the altar and much of the cathedral in honor of Quinquagesima Sunday.

Following a processional choir of 40 down the aisle to the hymn "Jesus Shall Reign," the primates proceeded down the aisle under a barrage of klieg lights and flashbulbs from the press, with 12 of the 14 new primates seated in canon's stalls around the high altar and the remaining primates seated in the stalls.

At the close of the service Canon Matthew Mhagama offered thanks to the Catholic missionary societies of the Church of England for planting the faith in Central Africa, and to the British Royal Navy for crushing the slave trade. "Whatever their shortcomings," the missionaries of the UMCA were "heroes." Their graves surrounding the cathedral were a testament to the power of the gospel and to their sacrifices for the "Catholic faith," he said.

On the final day of the meeting, the primates are expected to devote two sessions focusing on The Episcopal Church and approval of the final communique. They will also try to complete a number of other deferred issues. However, the agenda will change, sources note, in order to meet the deadline of completing the communique by meeting's end.

(The Rev.) George Conger

More on the Primates' Meeting

• Inside the 'Ring of Steel,' Primates Under Intense Pressure to Reach Agreement

• Amid Lowered Tensions, Primates Review Draft Covenant

• Communion Broken, Says Global South

• Cordial Day of Listening Marks Opening Sessions in Tanzania

• Presiding Bishop Attends Primates' Orientation Session

• On Day 1, Spotlight on The Episcopal Church

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