There could be sandwiches to spare in Dublin
by Ed Beavan of the Church Times UK
PITY the poor caterers. The next Primates’ Meeting starts in Dublin in four days’ time — and no one knows how many Primates will actually turn up.
At the end of last year, it was announced that ten Primates from the Global South intended to boycott the meeting, in protest at the inclusion of the US Primate after rows over gay bishops and same-sex blessings (News, 26 November).
The Church Times understands that this number might have risen to 14 out of the possible 37 Primates eligible to attend. (There is one vacancy.) The general secretary of the Anglican Communion Office (ACO), Canon Kenneth Kearon, believes, however, that those who stay away, “in protest after developments in the Episcopal Church” in the United States, will number “less than ten”. There might be other absentees because of health or visa issues, he said.
He admitted, however, that numbers would be unknown until the meeting began on Tuesday. “Given that most Primates make their own travel arrangements, and that plans can change at the last minute, it is impossible for anyone to say for certain how many Primates will travel to Dublin for the meeting.”
The ten Primates in the original boycott are understood to be those of Jerusalem & the Middle East, the Indian Ocean, South-East Asia, the Southern Cone, Rwanda, West Africa, Tanzania, Nigeria, Uganda, and Kenya. A Global South spokesman suggested that another four were likely to stay away. One of these, the Primate of Sudan, has other matters demanding his attention in the wake of his country’s referendum.
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I understand the frustration of the Global South Primates, but I hope in the end they would hear Archbishop Josiah on this --
ReplyDeletehttp://www.churchtimes.co.uk/content.asp?id=106003
Good point. In my view it is akin to being in an abusive relationship. Sometimes the right thing to do, if there is not a change in the behavior, is to take leave until it does change.
ReplyDeleteTomorrow bright and early, I am going to the Anglican 1000 conference in Plano TX until Friday. When I get back I will call you at th office so we can make plans for that lunch -- perhaps on the Southside?