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The Lambeth Conference

The Lambeth Conference, a once-every-10-years gathering of the bishops of the Anglican Communion, has concluded after nearly three weeks of conversation and meetings. Attending the event at the University of Kent in Canterbury, England, were more than 650 bishops.

	Bishop Wolfe speaks with Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori after a Eucharist at Canterbury Cathedral July 20 for participants at the Lambeth Conference. Photo by Herb Gunn

Thoughts from Bishop Wolfe

Bishop Wolfe said at the conference's conclusion that he prefers to see the Lambeth glass as half-full. "It could be better, and it could be much worse," he said in a phone call two days after the event's end. "I met lots of people, and in the end, those relationships are the primary benefit."

He noted that, as with most conferences, "It all comes down to the people you meet."

Bishop Wolfe also sent several reports back home while Lambeth was taking place. You can read all of them by clicking here.

Bishop Wolfe in the media

Bishop Wolfe was quoted by Episcopal Cafe, a blog of the Diocese of Washington, D.C., with these comments about the conference after it ended:

"Anyone who thinks we will come to a definitive conclusion overnight doesn't understand the church in general and the Anglican Communion in particular," said Bishop Dean Wolfe of Kansas, who said he appreciated that Williams had "acknowledged the continuing incursions in the life of the Episcopal Church. Those can only be detrimental to our desire on to walk together in unity."

Wolfe said it was essential that the Communion not attempt to preserve its unity "on the backs" of gays and lesbians."These things take time but in the end we tend to come round right."

Bishop Wolfe and Bishop Leo Frade are featured on Episcopal Life Online in two videos from their news conference July 30. The two were media briefers from the Episcopal Church.

Bishop Wolfe is included in a video about the Millennium Development Goals posted July 27 on the blog of Bishop Marc Andrus of California.

He also is quoted in an Episcopal News Service story July 19 about the retreat that is leading off the conference.
You can read it by clicking here.

Latest news

From Episcopal News Service, Aug. 4:
Lengthy reflections document called 'narrative' of Lambeth experience: Topics range from the environment and peace in Korea to sexuality and covenant
You can read it by clicking here.

From Episcopal News Service, Aug. 4
Reactions to Lambeth Conference span the spectrum
You can read it by clicking here.

From the Lambeth Daily, Aug. 3:
The text of the Archbishop of Canterbury's concluding presidential address
Read more by clicking here.

From the secular press

Read wrap-ups of the Lambeth Conference written by a variety of religion reporters:

AP
Anglican leader seeks moratorium on gay bishops.
You can read it by clicking here.

Washington Post
Debates Over Gay Bishop Dominate Anglican Event; Conference Ends With Plea From Archbishop
You can read it by clicking here.

NY Times
Anglicans to Seek Pact to Prevent a Schism
You can read it by clicking here.

The Times UK
Dr Rowan Williams restores peace at the troubled Lambeth Conference
You can read it by clicking here.

The Guardian
-Healing the rift: how Williams kept his flock together; Despite the boycotts and recriminations, the Anglican church is still in one piece.
You can read it by clicking here.
-Lambeth conference: Archbishop blames liberals for church rift; Consecration of gay clergy must stop to end Anglican crisis, says Williams.
You can read it by clicking here.

Information resources

The official Lambeth Conference website

The Lambeth Daily (including news, features, photos and Dave Walker's cartoons)

Lambeth photos from the Anglican Communion News Service (posted on Flickr)

Episcopal Life Online special coverage

Episcopal Life Online's multimedia coverage (including photos and video)

Episcopal Café (a news blog from the Diocese of Washington, D.C.)

The Living Church

Background information

Want to learn more about Lambeth? Here's information from the May/June 2008 issue of The Harvest, the newspaper of the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas:

Some insight into this year's meeting

Lambeth at a glance

Some actions taken by previous Lambeth Conferences