In his final presidential address to the Lambeth Conference on Aug. 3 Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams laid out his own vision of Anglican unity, a proposed moratorium and announced plans to call a primates’ meeting before the next meeting of the Anglican Consultative Council in May 2009. He also promised to deliver “a clear and detailed” plan for the composition of a pastoral forum within the next two months.
 
The church cannot be defined in its wider life by the actions of some, Archbishop Williams said referring to innovation such as public rites of same-sex blessing and the consecration of partnered homosexual persons as bishop, but discussion over homosexuality and its proper function within the church catholic should continue within the context of a moratorium.
 
“The theological ground for a plea for moratoria is the need to avoid this confusion so that discernment continues,” Archbishop Williams said. “The practice and public language of the Church act always as a reminder that the onus of proof is on those who seek a new understanding. To say that the would-be innovator must be heard gratefully and respectfully is simply to acknowledge the debt we always owe to those who ask unfamiliar questions, because they prompt us to explore our tradition more deeply.
 
“The pieces are on the board,” he said in conclusion. “And in the months ahead it will be important to invite those absent from Lambeth to be involved in these next stages. Much in the [Global Anglican Fellowship Conference] documents is consistent with much of what we have sought to say and do, and we need to look for the best way of building bridges here.”
 

Steve Waring

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