Lambeth Blog Final

I am at home again. It is lovely....but I think my time at the Lambeth Conference as been one of the highlights of my life. I thank God for it.

Sunday came to a close with another amazing service in Canterbury Cathedral. After many words of thanks during our final plenary in the Big Top we all boarded buses one again. I sat this time with one of my Scottish Bishops. Newly elected to Aberdeen and someone I thought might have been critical of the way things are, he had nothing but praise and admiration for the things Rowan had said in his closing address and for the general feeling of hope for the future. We agreed it may take until the next Lambeth and maybe beyond for the sexuality issues to be resolved but we are going home feeling a strengthening of ties and a confidence in the future of our beloved communion.

Final Plenary Session

Archbishop Rowan Williams delevers the final plenary address

The Cathedral was packed with a variety of colours intermingled with purple dresses! . The Choir excelled themselves. We sang music we had grown accustomed to, women read the lessons, Rowan preached. I can't remember a thing he said!! Sorry.

It rained. With my PNG umbrella over two from Cjile not dressed for an English summer we trecked round the gardens into a hastily arranged inside venue for the "picnic". The food was splendid as was the drink (Bishop's Ale) but I was driving home later so I watched everyone getting inebriated together, dancing to a Big Band (the Bishop of Edinburgh has REALLY gone up in my estimation!) and generally enjoying the fun.

Archbishop Sentamu on the drums

I will be 75 next time. Do you think they will still want me on the staff! Thank you for listening. Bless you xx

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Sunday Morning 3rd August

Tanzania

I was awakened by the sound of suitcases being trundled along below my bedroom window. Today is "Preparing to leave Day". Some are actually leaving today whilst others early tomorrow morning. We have to be out of our rooms by 10.00 am as 1,000 policemen from all over the south of England are moving in! I have enjoyed my little room in Tyler Court. Having an ensuite has been very good indeed (especially in the middle of the night), some have been in flats or houses with five sharing one shower and one loo. An American woman bishop told me she found working out the best time to get up in order to have a shower with hot water immediately was the most challenging thing about the Conference. I was tempted to say perhaps she should visit some of her colleagues in PNG or Tanzania!!

Last evening we had a Plenary when four of our young Stewards gave talks about their lives, their faith and their impressions of the Conference. It was amusing, encouraging, humbling, and really quite exciting. There is a future for our Anglican Communion if we take notice of these young people. I must get Jonathan to put his name down for 2016! 

I am wearing my Tanzanian MU dress. It is very comfortable and smart. At breakfast I enrolled two Australian Bishops wives. Many have been impressed with the stories that have reflected MU work in a variety of countries. Some have expressed shame that they have not rated the work of the Mothers' Union in the past.   The Spouses have already worshipped emotionally together and the final Indaba Group report is promised for this afternoon's last Plenary which will be in the Big Top with both Bishops and Spouses. The campus seems full of television cameras and others interviewing Bishops. All of us have impressed our thumb prints on a piece of tablecloth from our round tables. It is sewn with symbols etc of our time together. Jane will take it home and hang it in Lambeth Palace to remind her of this time. The Vine leaves are also shared among us as a reminder for everyone. Addresses and phone numbers are being shared.

Jane Williams

There is a feeling of anticipation: hope for the future , a togetherness that will endure despite differences unresolved, a wish to be home to family and familiar places, beds, food, loos........

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Saturday 2nd August

A misty, moisty morning in Canterbury.

Our theme for today is PRACTICING a Future UNITY.......at least that is in the Spouses Tent. As we joined together in the Big Top for the morning Eucharist it was obvious that many were missing. No sunshine to get us going perhaps. The service was led by the five Bishops who are here from Kenya (with AB John Sentamu playing his drum!). Their wives sat close on the front row and joined in the singing with gusto supporting their men. It was a very emotional service. I think those of us there felt the huge miss of Rwanda, Nigeria, Uganda and all the others from Kenya and other parts of our Communion unable to come.

Making an angel

"So some have come who need your help
and some have come to make amends
as hands which shaped and saved the world
are present in the touch of friends.
Lord let your spirit meet us here
to mend the body, mind, and soul,
to disentangle peace from pain
and make your broken people whole."

Archbishop Rowan Williams

And if praying and singing can do it surely today will swing the vote. For the Spouses Tent continued at 9.15 with worship on until 11.30. AB Rowan joined us. We ate cherries and planted the stones, there being no grapes with pips in British Supermarkets (the Vine thing!!) Some of us will bring them home to plant and grow. Watch out for Tanzanian cherry trees growing in Ashtead! There was an immense feeling of hope and unity in our place, but then thats women for you.......is it?

As I walk about (I am walking much more slowly than in the beginning) I see Fringe events, I pick up free offers of book marks, prayer cards etc. I have even bought some Holy socks for the boys. The MU stall in the Market Place is popular with many, even those who in the past have shunned our organisation. At this Conference they have heard so many good things about the MU that they are turning up at the stall to meet members of the Trustee Board and members of Staff from Mary Sumner House who are there daily to chat and get to know those who come. I have met many of the very willing volunteers from Canterbury Diocese who are here every day helping in all sorts of ways to make the day run smoothly. A great debt is owed to these volunteers and those who have helped with the many outings around Kent villages which Spouses and some Bishops have been able to enjoy. Their last job will be to get everyone, and their luggage, to the correct bus stop, train station, airport starting from 3.30am on Monday morning.

HTB team and Nicky Gumbel

Some snippets from todays conversations:
" Collosians 3 12: We need to clothe ourselves.............: this is something active not passive, choosing to practice and LIVE unity."
"The Bishops are struggling, born out of the need for one-ness"
"We are there to help and support BUT we are not carbon copies......we are all different and see in our own way"
"What is it that God is saying to me today? How can I share this with others, with a real sense of integrity"
"We are the body of Christ............We say this, LET US MEAN IT, let us live it. This is God's church. We are HIS servants and TOGETHER we are going to walk ahead".

Hilary Hill (Guildford), Blessing and Sally Thompson

Getting particular praise are the small Bible Reading groups where participants have had the opportunity to grow together as they have studied St John's Gospel over these 2 weeks. This is a gift we have been encouraged to take away. This afternoon at 5.00 I will be helping to dismantle the Vine. What was whole will become many. Each Conference attendee will be encouraged to take away a leaf. This too will be planted in parishes around our Communion as Bishops, Spouses, Volunteers, Stewards, Chaplains, Staff and even the Media representatives tell the story of the vine. Some may replicate it in their own place, but even if not physically, surely this vine will grow in every corner of the world and help to keep the unity which we are all so earnestly praying for.

In the name of Christ xx

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Friday 1st August

Threat of rain has passed and the sun is shining. Everyone is looking tired. I am certainly feeling it. BUT this afternoon I have a lady called Caroline Fielder coming to speak on the growth of the Church in China. I am sure that will be exciting.

Jane Williams

Last evening I got to my room at 6.10 to find an invitation to a Reception at The Old Place with Jane and Rowan. Magnificent: off with one dress on with another, perfume quick hairbrush and off to catch the coach leaving at 6.30. Yes, I can do it when the promise is good!! These invitations have been going out several times. About 25 of us went and it was a mixed group of Bishops, Spouses and staff. The Bishop of Aberdeen was good company and, after a couple of glasses of wine, I had a frank discussion with the Bishop Matthias from Ho in Ghana, his wife Lucy and an unknown USA chap.

Because I don't have the ear of a Bishop privately I have been chatting where I could to try to find how the Indaba groups are going on the theme of Covenant and sexuality. Mentioning no names of course (we keep being told there is danger for some if they speak outside their safe areas!) I feel there will be no real answer to the difficulties the Anglican Communion has been experiencing since the last Lambeth Conference ten years ago. Generally people agree that relationships, friendships and close family feelings are developing. But "ways forward" are still unsure. Someone said: "Godly things don't happen fast. It could take 100 years and then by then something else will be troubling us!" Another: "When did ANY family agree on everything between each other. Why can't we just agree to disagree and get on with life." 

Mathilde - Burundi

In the Spouses Tent our theme for the day was "Equipping God's Church: Empowering others and ourselves." Our speakers were from Congo, Burundi, Madagascar, Mexico and Brazil. English speakers needed to use the translation service all morning. Makes you realise how difficult it is for none English speakers who are listening on their head pieces or sitting by a personal interpreter all the time.

Mugisa (Congo), Alice (Madagascar) and Mathilde (Burundi) described projects in their countries run by the Mothers' Union most of which I know very well. The RUTH PROJECT in Madagascar was new to me but in essence much the same as others. Empowering women by providing Literacy and Numerecy classes, Income Generating Programmes, Micro Finance, Leadership Training, Reconciliation Programmes etc. Supporting them with Retreats and Quiet Days, Prayer and extended worship times. Supporting family life with care for the elderly, widows and orphans. There was thanks for the support coming from MU groups here in the UK and of course from Mary Sumner House, our headquarters in London. Some of the women have brought the things their people make back at home. Each day there is a little impromptu market where they are selling their goods.

Mugisa Isingoma - Congo

Alice Chung - Madagasca

The ladies from Mexico and Brazil talked of similar programmes in support of women and orphans. Sister Angelica said: "Strong arms and the unity between people gets things done. Dream alone and there is only a dream; dream together and things will happen."

The Vine is finished now and a professional photographer has produced Book Marks which I am bringing home for those of you who helped me manufacture the examples. I have told everyone how clever you are and how willing. Wonder what they will get us to do in ten years time!! "I am the Vine whose branches grow United in one root; Who dwell in me, and I in them, Shall live and bear much fruit."

The Vine

I am thinking about the Pirates in Ashtead and wondering how they are doing. Must look on the website. Hope the Cutlasses and the Grappling Hooks did well. Of course I hope all of you enjoyed your time as much as I am enjoying my time here. Possibly it was very similar to the Lambeth Conference. Good practice for when you are all Bishops! We have about 50 young people who are acting as Stewards. They are from all over the Anglican Communion. some are students I think. All are Christians belonging to Anglican churches in their home countries. Sadly Caroline told me this afternoon, speaking on the rapid growth of Christians in China, that the Chinese backed out at the last minute because Rowan spoke with the Dalai Lama. What a shame. I am sure both Bishops, wives and young people must have been devastated.

So Friday evening........should be Gin and Tonic time surely..........

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Thursday 31st July

Is it THURSDAY? I think so.

Over a coffee I have just been reading the Preliminary Observations of the Windsor Continuation Group. I have to say it is not comfortable. Although ordinary folk like me are listening and talking with many, hearing a great willingness to hear other voices and an openness to trust and continued communion, the Report seems to think otherwise. It speaks of breakdown of trust, of inconsistency between stated intent and reality, of the consequences where actions have not always been adequately addressed.   Our theme in the Spouses Venue is "Caring for God's people: their Spiritual and Physical Well-being". Are we hiding under these issues things much deeper and more serious?

Cross in Senate House

Maria Okifri

Maria Okifri; I have spoken of her before. She is the wife of the Archbishop of West Africa. She lives in two cities Accra and Liverpool as an eminent anaesthetist working in both places and on the Mercy Ships. She is a big woman, funny and serious in the same sentence. She has a strong and infectious faith. I am growing to like her, to love her more and more. This even though her views on the Gay issues in our church are quite different to mine. Not only that, she finds the Mothers' Union a real difficulty.

But there is so much I agree with Maria about. I know we will always be friends. Well anyway she gave the address this morning speaking about ...

"divine health: complete well-being".

 
"positive thinking" Philippians 4

"we are strategic women in God's economy". A village woman could go home from this Conference with a message that would change her village but we (that's the spouses) could change a Diocese or even a Province"

Professor John Copeland followed, also from Liverpool University. He told us the mind is the executive part of the body, the most complex organ. The mind controls our physical well being and more notice should be taken of it when sickness invades.

All of this seems to echo what we saw yesterday at the Hospital. Body, mind and spirit contribute to the whole and it is wrong to treat one and ignore the others.

Trying to sum up all I can think of is lunch......is that my body, my mind or my spirit? Will that help my swollen ankles?

I hope God is watering my tomatoes. x

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Wednesday 30th July

Wednesday. Phew.....what a great day. I went on an outing to a hospital. It was the one with spaces so I just filled in with no real idea of where I was going. It turned out to be Burrswood a Christian Hospital near Tunbridge Wells. I have booked a bed for after I have my hip op and my knees sorted. It was the usual God given free offer. An amazing day at a beautiful place where peace just seeped into our souls and bodies as soon as the coach drove down the drive. They treated us like royalty (well we did have Jane Williams in our number. I think they must have heard her talk on Radio 4 on Sunday and maybe even the Womans Hour interview). After good food, pleasant walks in the sunlit gardens we ended our day of rest with a Healing Service in their magnificent chapel. Truly a retreat that healed the whole body, physically, mentally and spiritually.

Chapel at Burrswood Hospital

I finished my day with our usual Compline in the Senate House here on Campus.

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Tuesday 29th July

Welcome to Tuesday! Here I am much later than usual as my Puppet Woman has been causing me some difficulties. Poor thing arrived here on Sunday night with her arm in a sling but really up for doing her workshop yesterday and some Fringe Events during the week even though she works alone and couldn't lift her arm up above shoulder height. All was going well untill she fell down a slope and twisted her ankle. Soooo yesterday she was in hospital whilst I was fending off the customers for her spot and finding other equally interesting things for them to do. The medics, in their wisdom, sent her home after discovering there were no bones broken. Modern medicine seems to think, no strapping or bandage and because of the shoulder problem no stick or crutch!! So guess who is the crutch?! Today we are trying to get her an early flight home ..... Thursday I think.

Mothers Union puppet Yvonne Naylor from Belfast

"Going Deeper" into Christian Peacemaking

Last night I went to hear the Chief Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks speaking. He was ACE. I expect you all knew that already but I think I had only heard him on Thought for the Day and that isn't long enough to really get to grips with the Anglican Communion issues of the day! His talk will be on the Anglican website; suffice to say he spoke about lots of things but came to Covenants. The difference between a Contract and a Covenant: CONTRACT is an agreement between individuals pursuing their own interests; COVENANT is an agreement between two people or groups, respecting each others' integrity to share their interests, even maybe their lives. There was lots more about Covenants in the Old Testament. I can give lectures on it if anyone is interested. Summing up, he was amazingly encouraging and supportive of Rowan and of all us Anglicans, got two standing ovations both for the talk and the answers to questions and sent us off to Compline feeling it is all worthwhile and far from a lost cause!

Today is a shared day, Spouses and Bishops together discussing " Equal in God's sight: When power is abused". We were all in the Big Top. The "Riding Lights Theatre Group" performed again including the woman caught in Adultery, Jairus' daughter, the woman with the issue of blood, and the Prodigal son (although it was a daughter this time) in their dramatisation. Things got a bit heated especially when the Stewards reported that around a hundred men had left the hall early and only one or two women! The men were feeling got at I guess.

"I am the Well from whose fresh springs
Life giving water flows
And on each side a tree of life
With leaves for healing grows."

It thundered and rained last evening. Today everywhere is fresh and cool. I hope you had some cooling rain in Ashtead.
Blessings.

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The Second Week in the Lambeth Conference

Monday 28th July

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Friday 25th July. End of week one!

I feel like the White Rabbit in 'Alice'.........racing from place to place. A more modern allusion might be 'Confused.com'. Having a day off in London has just added to the panic!

Archbishop and Prime Minister

So: LONDON DAY during the Lambeth Conference, one of the highlights especially for those from overseas and those with special outfits and HATS! Breakfast was at 6.00 and the queue for coaches was already long when I joined it at 6.45. But...hey....the sun shone I had on my comfortable shoes and a comfortable hat I have worn many times before and throughout the day there was always someone really interesting to talk to.....and photograph.

Through out this week I have enjoyed the waiting just as much as anything else. I found my friend Zac with Catherine his wife as we carried our Banners (mine said:KEEP THE PROMISE) in the March of Witness and support for the Millennium Development Goals. He's now a bishop in Kenya and so excited and thrilled to be here. They stayed in my house once. MU in Scotland might remember them coming to a St Andrews Council I think on a cold November day!

Bishop Zac and Catherine from Kenya

The Vine

Gordon Brown spoke with real passion in the grounds of Lambeth Palace. As we all listened and clapped I remembered the times I have heard him before and prayed that he remembers to speak with equal passion to the heads of government who will meet at the UN in September. Maybe we should all go there to keep him on target! One who will certainly is Helen Wangusa the Anglican Communion's Representative at the UN. She thanked Gordon very graciously but left him understanding the real urgency of this Micah Challenge especially for women and children. Bravo Helen. The AB of C also spoke with commitment to the cause as he welcomed everyone to his humble abode for lunch! I sneaked off over Lambeth Bridge to Mary Sumner House to see my mates at the MU.

Then it was Buck House to have tea with the Queen. A most perfect English afternoon, in a lovely English garden, with cucumber sandwiches, tea and iced coffee, strawberries and icecream, a military band. The Africans sat in the shade whilst us from northern climes wandered round the lawns and flowers in the sun.   Some special people were introduced, among them at least two couples I know well from Burundi and Myanmar (Clavera and Elizabeth). For everyone I think it was a very memorable day which came to an end with an evening picnic back on Campus about 8.30.

Work-wise we have moved on to "My place in God's world" and "The Environment". As stewards of God's world there is much to think about these days and all worship today is reflecting that. The Plenary Session had Professor Rapley from the Science Museum. He has a whole page of degrees etc after his name being an authority among other things on CLIMATE CHANGE. I was sitting next to Lynne Hiltz the wife of the Primate of Canada. She has the icy wastes of northern Canada under her care so had much to share about melting glaciers.

So this afternoon I would really like to go on the outing to the seaside, or a session on silk painting perhaps BUT I am facilitating the group "Mission Challenges posed by Eastern Spiritualities." Will anyone come do you think?!

I'm coming home for some of the weekend to check on my tomatoes and beans (My daughter-in-law says she can't find the beans and last night I dreamt the tomatoes had withered and died!!). God Bless xx

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Later On Wednesday 23rd July

As the African heat beats down on Canterbury I seem to spend lots of time fetching iced water for the participants in the meetings I am involved with. Today it was Nicky Gumble and his gang from HTB. He is speaking to the Bishops and anyone else who wants to be there in the evening.

The Spices have moved on to "Vocation" in their plenary session. We have had several interesting talks and much sharing round the tables. Margaret Sentamu again:"family is the foundation to life......I am because I belong.......We all need to belong" She was stressing the importance of being the pivotal point of the family even if you are juggling that with your own profession. For many Bishop's wives/husbands they have had to give up their own profession/interests to concentrate on their husband/wife. this can be difficult especially when you have to move far from your friends and family. Sometimes the move can be to a completely different culture.

So I'm off to sort out my hat for tomorrow. Hopefully I will tell you all about it on Friday. Blessings, Trish x

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Wednesday 23rd July   "I am the vine whose branches grow United in one root Who dwell in me, and I in them, Shall live and bear much fruit." I hope you are able to see how the Vine is growing in the Spices Centre here at the University of Kent. Everyone keeps very busy but there is still time to chill out and add a few more stiches, buttons or sequins to a leaf ready for the Vine. Each one has to be sprayed with something that will stop it bursting into flames before it can be fixed! As the days heat up one or two of us may need spraying too!!

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Tuesday in Canterbury.

The sun is shining from a clear blue sky and so my friends from warmer climes are feeling much happier. Please pray that the weather will stay good especially for Thursday when we go to London to Walk for Witness to the Millenium Development Goals and visit the Queen for tea.

Tanzania

Real work is well under way now. I even missed my lovely Compline last night.....I needed to go to my bed! Monday saw the Spices discussing Marriage. Not sure how much that was reflected in the afternoon session on TRAUMA I was involved with! Leave that to your own imagination. Lily from Taiwan and Tomea from Pretoria reflected for us in the morning session on their lives as wives of Bishops. Tomea said : "My ministry is to my husband and for me personally marriage is a life of compromise and sacrifice. " I couldn't help but think maybe that's true for all of us, Bishop or not. Did you realise that Taiwan is only 4% Christian. Must be difficult.

At "Working with Trauma" in the afternoon I heard stories from Frances, Liberia; Pacifique, Congo; Clavera, Burundi and Elizabeth, Sierra Leone. Please pray for these women and others here who have experienced the effects of war and genocide on women and their families. We cried together with women from other parts of the world hearing these stories for the first time, we prayed and sang. We were late for everything else! "Be still and know that I am God".

In between as I walk around the campus I meet people I have seen in other places and some I only know from letters and emails. A long conversation with Maria Okifri from Ghana. There are others from West Africa, from Tanzania, from Malawi, from Kenya; all from places that the press are saying are not represented. Sadly the only person I have seen from Rwanda is Bishop Venuste who used to be in Butare. I think he has moved now. No one so far from Nigeria. It is such a sadness, for me personally, that these my friends are not here because they think differently about some relatively insignificant issues.

Maria Okifri from Ghana

I had supper with a nun I last saw on a beach in the Solomon Islands where we danced to loud music on hot sand to make money for an MU hostel there for abused women and children. It was good to see her here as part of the chaplaincy team along with several Melanesian Brothers.

Rosemary Kempsall

The Plenary in the Big Top last night was very refreshing: an American called Brian McLaren speaking on "Changing Context: Mission to people outside the Church". He has written good books I am told. One thing he said:" We took Christianity as missionaries to places where we tried to make the people like us............we should have been making them like Christ".

There are two and a half thousand people here! Off to queue for lunch, or maybe I would be better to miss a meal!

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Saturday and Sunday in Canterbury:

I am now getting much more used to the campus, finding short cuts and not having to rush quite so much. On Sunday afternoon I was able to have a snooze so feel much more rested today and less fraught!!

On Saturday the main programmes began with Plenary session and Bible Study in the mornings and Self Select Sessions in the afternoons. The day begins with A 7.15 Eucharist in the Big Top and ends with Compline at 21.45 in a lovely quiet, round Chapel set up in the Senate House. There are other Worship times throughout the day and ocasional Fringe events and other talks and Plenaries. Ongoing is the Vine Leaf making and our Vine is beginning to take shape.

I was facilitating a session on "Mission to Street Workers" very apt as the Bible Study on Saturday was the story of the Samaritan Woman at the Well. Women fro Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Australia and England came to the session.

Sunday was special because of the Service in Canterbury Cathedral. Buses left at 9.00am and we didn't return until after 2.00pm. The procession of Bishops into the Cathedral took three quarters of an hour!! The Bishop of Colombo in the Church of Ceylon, Sri Lanka preached and Archbishop Rowan was the Celebrant.

I had a long talk to Ruth Bakare from Harare Diocese in Zimbabwe about the difficulties they are experiencing. She thanked us for our prayers, keep them going. In the evening we were entertained by a wonderful Mothers' Union choir from Korea. Unfortunately i did not have my camera with me. Perhaps you will see pictures of them on the Lambeth Conference website. Do look there for other stuff too.

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Greetings and good wishes in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ from the 550+ Bishops of the Anglican Communion and their wives/husbands gathered here in the University of Kent in Canterbury. I arrived safely after a relative short journey conpared with so many others. Then of course the queing started!! It seemed like hours before we were in the correct rooms with the correct luggage.

Some Bishops were not happy that the rooms were all singles! Those in the Celtic Fringe particularly I think. Anyway in conversation with my Bishop of St Andrews Diocese I discovered there had been some furniture removing going on.!


A photograph shows Jane Williams speaking and introducing the Spouses part of the Conference with which I am most closely involved.


Another shows the building of the Vine which many in our Parish have contributed leaves to. Today and tomorrow the Bishops are spending time in Canterbury Cathedral at a silent Retreat. They will be back here for supper soon. Souses, mainly women have been getting to know each other. I have met special people from around the world that I know from my travels with the Mothers' Union.



We even have at least one baby with us."