wfn.org | [ENS] Anglican Consultative Council opens Nottingham meeting under

["Matthew Davies" <mdavies@episcopalchurch.org>]

Sunday, June 19, 2005

Anglican Consultative Council opens Nottingham meeting under theme
'Living
Communion'

By Bob Williams

ENS 061905-1

[ENS, Nottingham] Under the theme "Living Communion," the 13th meeting
of
the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC) opened in Nottingham at 10 a.m.
today with a service of worship and a business session for roll call and
introductory proceedings.

This morning's gathering included more than 70 elected members and more
than
50 visitors. The session opened the 10-day meeting of the ACC, which
meets
every three years as the principal consultative body, one of four
"instruments of unity" within the Anglican Communion and its 77 million
members in 164 countries.

Led by the Rev. Ian Tarrent, Anglican priest and senior chaplain to the
University of Nottingham, the worship service was conducted with liturgy
projected on a large screen. Texts included Acts 1:1-11, and a reading
with
the response, "waiting, waiting, waiting for the Spirit to come."  The
opening hymn was "Holy, Holy, Holy," and the prayers included a
confession
and absolution.

In the prayers, Tarrent gave thanks for the faith traditions held in
common
among the Anglican Communion, adding: "We are sorry for the divisions
among
us, and we pray, Lord, [in] this meeting, that you'll help us find
unity."

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams, was present for the
worship service and business session, led by the ACC's chairman, the Rt.
Rev. John Paterson, retired Archbishop of the Church of Aotearoa and New
Zealand.. The Anglican Communion's Secretary General, the Rev. Canon
Kenneth
Kearon, called the roll, and recognized ecumenical guests, including
representatives of the Mar Thoma Church, the Roman Catholic Church, and
the
World Council of Churches.

Reading the roll in non-alphabetical order, Kearon introduced
representatives of the churches of Bangladesh, Brazil, Burundi, Central
America Region, Ceylon, Hong Kong, Indian Ocean, Japan, Jerusalem and
the
Middle East, Korea, Melanesia, Myanmar, New Guinea, Philippines
(delegates
en route), Southern Cone of America, Scotland, Southeast Asia, West
Africa,
Aotearoa/New Zealand/Polynesia, Central Africa, Congo, Ireland, Kenya,
North
India, Pakistan, Sudan, youth delegates including a representative of
the
international Anglican Youth Network, Australia, Canada, England,
Nigeria,
Rwanda, Southern Africa, South India, Tanzania, Uganda, United States,
Mexico, West Indies, Wales.

Kearon included both the Anglican Church of Canada and the Episcopal
Church
in the roll, identifying the delegates as "elected members" while also
acknowledging their role as observers, whose churches had voluntarily
withdrawn their participation from the proceedings. "We recognize the
awkwardness of their presence here," Kearon said.

The Episcopal Church's elected members, all of whom were present and
introduced themselves this morning, are Bishop Suffragan Catharine
Roskam of
the Diocese of New York, Josephine Hicks of the Diocese of North
Carolina,
and the Rev. Robert Sessum of the Diocese of Lexington.

When called upon, Roskam extended greetings from the Episcopal Church's
101
domestic dioceses, and the overseas Province 9 dioceses, listing them by
name, and the Convocation of American Churches in Europe.

Other U.S. Episcopalians present as visitors include members of the
American
Anglican Council, an organization which is offering a display among
exhibits
in the lobby area of the conference center on the campus of the
University
of Nottingham.

Proceedings continue this afternoon with Eucharist at St. Peter's City
Center Church, Nottingham, where the Rev. Andrew Deuchar is vicar.
Deuchar
formerly served as secretary for Anglican Communion relations during Dr.
George Carey's tenure as Archbishop of Canterbury. Preacher this
afternoon
will be Canon Joel Edwards, president of England's Evangelical Alliance.

During this morning's worship time, participants were lead in learning
and
singing a song new to many: "I will offer up my life in spirit and
truth,
pouring out the oil of love as my worship to you. In surrender I must
give
my every part; Lord receive the sacrifice of a broken heart.

"Jesus, what can I give, what can I bring, to so faithful a friend, to
so
loving a King? Saviour, what can be said, what can be sung as a praise
of
your name for the things you have done? Oh, my words could not tell, not
even in part, of the debt of love that is owed by this thankful heart.

"You deserve my ev'ry breath, for you've paid the great cost; living up
your
life to death, even death on a cross. You took all my shame away, there
defeating my sin, opened up the gates of heav'n and have beckoned me
in."

-- Canon Robert Williams is director of communication for the Episcopal
Church.

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