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ACNS 1887 · 18 September 1999 · Dundee [ACC-11/21]
ACC CONSIDERS FUTURE OF UN OBSERVER
"I am heartened by the ecumenical possibilities" said the Revd Samuel
Koshiishi of Nippon Sei Ko Kai and a member of the Anglican Peace and
Justice Network. He was speaking in response to the Anglican Consultative
Council's review of the Office of Anglican Observer at the United Nations.
Meeting in Dundee, Scotland, ACC11, considered a report from the Joint
Standing Committee of the ACC and Primates on the future of the Anglican
Communion's office at the United Nations. The review noted that the previous
Observer's "contracted period of employment has now been completed, and we
have the opportunity during this interregnum to achieve a common
understanding of all the matters" related to the office. The need for
clarification in the relationship between the New York based Advisory
Council to the Anglican Observer and the Archbishop of Canterbury and
especially the ACC was central to the review.
The Most Revd John Paterson, Presiding Bishop of the Anglican Church of
Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia and Vice-Chair of the ACC led the
Council through a consideration of the issues. Discussion affirmed the
importance of the office's ministry stressing the importance for the Church
to be heard in the halls of political power. Mrs Margaret Bihabanyi of the
Episcopal Church in Rwanda stated her concern about the lack of leadership
in the interregnum period. Members emphasized the possibility of ecumenical
cooperation at the United Nations.
A resolution was adopted by the Council thanking the previous Observer at
the United Nations, The Rt Revd James Ottley, and the Advisory Council for
their fine work. The resolution clarified the relationship among the
Advisory Council, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the ACC. It further
proposed new ways of viewing the office and streamlining the staff with the
provision of a working budget for the next five years.
Communications Team
ACC-11
Ian Douglas, Margaret Rodgers, Jim Rosenthal, Manasseh Zindo