wfn.org | Edinburgh Welcomes Anglican Consultative Council

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ACNS 1891 · 19 September 1999 · Dundee [ACC-11/27]
EDINBURGH WELCOMES ACC
The splendour of a Solemn Eucharist in St Mary's Cathedral, a lunch with the
First Minister of the Scottish Parliament, a private hearing on sexuality
and a bus tour of the Royal Mile, were the ingredients of a day in
Scotland's capital for the ACC.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Revd George L. Carey, received a warm
welcome from the Provost of St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral and preached the
sermon at the liturgy that was standing room only. The two-hour service
included music by the choir of boys and girls with men, the first such choir
in the United Kingdom having boys and girls sing together. A Mozart mass and
anthem were accompanied by orchestra members of St Mary's Music School. The
prayers were offered in the style of Taize. The music was of the highest
calibre.
In his sermon Archbishop Carey said, "But it is not always easy to keep our
ideals uppermost in our thoughts and prayers. I was struck by Bishop Richard
Holloway's address at Aberdeen Cathedral on Tuesday. He spoke of the way we
church people may confuse the church structures with the good news we share.
The result may be that we end up loving the church more than the gospel and
seek our own survival rather than obeying the Lord of the Church.
Yes, that is a subtle danger. As Paul reminds us, there is a gospel to
contend for and we can only do it effectively when we do it together and are
open to the leading of God.
To say we live in exciting times is a truism. This century has seen the
encouraging growth of our Communion. What is more we have grown most
spectacularly where our church has suffered and where it has had to live out
its faith by exercising a daily trust in God. God beckons us into his
future; a future which will daunt the strongest among us and call forth from
us, possibly, depths of faith, love and hope that we have never previously
fathomed."
As incense billowed through the glorious building the Primus of the Scottish
Episcopal Church, the Most Revd Richard Holloway, complete with mitre,
presided at the Eucharist assisted by the Chairman of the ACC, Bishop Simon
Chiwanga of Tanzania and Vice Chairman, Presiding Bishop John Paterson of
New Zealand.
At the conclusion of the mass the Sunday School children, in a very
emotional moment, gave prayer cards with the Gaelic Blessing to the ACC
members as the choir sang the text to music by John Rutter as the dismissal
of the liturgy. The children process out of the church following behind the
Primus.
The ACC were guests of the Scottish Episcopal Church at a luncheon attended
by the First Minister of the new Scottish Parliament as well as leaders of
the National and Conservative parties. In his greeting the First Minister
said the government and church share the social justice and poverty agenda.
Speaking of the emergence of the Scottish Parliament and referring to the
church as well said, "Some people fear change but we must face it and
embrace it as we are in a time of change."
At an optional event on the ACC schedule, four Anglicans and one
Presbyterian gave testimony and witness at a hearing on homosexuality at a
venue near the cathedral. One of the speakers was a parent of a lesbian
daughter and another an Anglican priest, the others were laity. The Revd
Richard Kirker gave a brief outline of the work of the Lesbian and Gay
Christian Movement in the UK. The testimonies were received by thoughtful
and reflective silence. In a statement to the press ACC Chairman Bishop
Simon Chiwanga said, "As the ACC is a representative gathering of the
world-wide Anglican Communion, the reaction to such testimonies is broad and
diverse. The whole area of human sexuality is complex, personal, and wrapped
in cultural understandings."
The press statement also announced the initiation by the Archbishop of
Canterbury of a Communion-wide "conversation" on human sexuality. This is
being done in consultation with the Primate of the Episcopal Church USA, the
Most Revd Frank Griswold. The first meeting will take place in New York in
November. This initiative is in response to the Lambeth Conference
resolution addressing homosexuality.
A bus tour completed the day with a quick look at the sights of Edinburgh's
Royal Mile.
The ACC work for Monday, September 20, centres on mission and evangelism
both on a local level with Scotland's Mission 21 and Communion level with
MISSIO. Bishop of Honduras, Leo Frade, will lead a hearing on International
Debt in the afternoon.
Photographs from the Edinburgh Day are available from the PhotoFile section
of the Anglican Communion web site.
(http://www.anglicancommunion.org/photofile/)