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Lambeth Conference at a glance

What is it? A meeting of the bishops of the Anglican Communion held once every 10 years at the invitation of the Archbishop of Canterbury. It is one of the Communion’s four “Instruments of Communion,” but it has no binding authority over any province of the Communion, although its deliberations carry considerable moral authority.

Is Bishop Wolfe going? Yes. Bishop Dean Wolfe flies on July 10 to Denbighshire, Wales, where he will preach at St. Asaph’s. He then travels to the University of Kent, site of the Lambeth Conference. After the conference ends, his wife, Ellen, and son, William, will join him for a family vacation. They return Aug. 17.

What will they do? Planners have devoted nearly the entire schedule to worship, Bible study and conversation. Unlike prior conferences, there are no plans to issue any statements on current issues facing the Anglican Communion.

The first three days are devoted to a retreat titled “God’s mission and a bishop’s discipleship.” Other daylong programs will explore the role of bishops in Anglican identity, evangelism and social injustice. The last two days will deal with a proposed Anglican Covenant and the Windsor Process.

Who will be there? Most archbishops, diocesan, assistant and suffragan bishops are invited, along with bishops from other churches “in communion” with the Anglican Communion, bishops from United Churches and a number of ecumenical guests. Spouses of the more than 800 bishops attending are invited to a parallel, independent gathering, the Spouses’ Conference.

Who won’t be there? The conference has already made headlines for two bishops who did not get invitations: V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire and Martyn Minns of the Anglican Church of Nigeria. The Archbishop of Canterbury said an invitation for Robinson “was not possible” because the reaction to the openly gay bishop’s consecration in 2003 was so divisive.

Minns, a priest who left the Episcopal Church and was made a bishop in Nigeria to lead a group of breakaway parishes in North America, was not invited because the Archbishop of Canterbury has deemed his consecration “irregular” and stated that he was not in communion with him.

Robinson will be in London, participating in several planned events coinciding with Lambeth. Minns has said he is not planning to attend but hinted to TIME magazine recently that he “might” be in England visiting family while the conference is in session.

How can I find out what’s happening at the conference? The conference is off-limits to visitors and media, although some outside events are open to the public. A large number of reporters from secular and church media, as well as writers representing various special interest groups, will be present.

For news, check these sources:

Episcopal News Service

Anglican Communion News Service

Episcopal Cafe

The Living Church

— Material courtesy The Southern Cross, Diocese of Southwest Florida