Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Pray For Lambeth

MadPriest reminds us to pray for Lambeth. Here is the official prayer from the Lambeth Conference website:

Pour down upon us, O God, the gifts of your Holy Spirit, that those who prepare for the Lambeth Conference may be filled with wisdom and understanding. May they know at work within them that creative energy and vision which belong to our humanity, made in your image and redeemed by your love, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

I confess that I don't have great hope that good will come out of the Lambeth Conference, but perhaps I shall be pleasantly surprised. However, I will join in with all my heart to pray for the bishops and the conference, that God's perfect will may be done, keeping in mind the following passage:

The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.
John 3:8

Come, Holy Spirit!

21 comments:

  1. Oh, I do fear that something WILL come out of Lambeth - NONE of it good or pleasing in the sight of the Lord.

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  2. The problem may be that many of those attending Lambeth will also be of one mind - but will cede to those who are of another, closed mind. As EK says, none of it will be good or pleasing.

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  3. Well, they've made sure that they won't have to listen to some of those with whom they don't agree. How very convenient.

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  4. One would think that the only honest partnered gay bishop in the Anglican Communion might have something to contribute to the conversation at Lambeth, but one would be wrong - or so HE has decided.

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  5. I am deeply upset, and concerned. Dr Williams was the Primate of the part of the Church into which I was baptised (Wales.) He was always admired for his inclusive theology, in particular in the area of sexuality. Now it seems that certain power blocks in the Anglican tradition have taken control of the whole decision-making apparatus. I will not echo Map Priest in case the blogger "Question of Identity" again accuses me of racism - but MP's analysis is very accurate.

    Whatever happened to the Apostle that, not so very long ago, I wanted to follow?

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  6. I suppose this kind of thinking should be expected to show itself, but it is disheartening to see it in those called to lead the Church.

    Whatever happens, it may be a good thing to pray for the little weasel: The Grand Tufti; it's clear he will need it, given his behavior.

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  7. It's a good reminder to pray. Thanks.

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  8. RR, I understand that it must be painful for you. I have read some of Abp. Williams' writings on the place of LGTB Christians' n the church before he became ABC, and he has done such a turnaround. I honestly don't know what could have happened to him to move him so far away from his previous views. I suppose that he believes that he expresses the "mind of the church", but it seems to me that he's listening to the wrong people.

    When he turned on his friend Jeffrey John, we should have known what was coming down the road.

    Johnieb, It's never a bad thing to pray - even for the Tufti.

    Ruth, you're quite welcome.

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  9. I fear that no change will occur; just more of the same. But I needed the reminder to pray.

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  10. As I said over at the MadOne's -- Oh well: prayer comes with some good recommendations. Will do.

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  11. Cheer up, everybody. This may be the last Lambeth Conference.

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  12. Ormonde, a word from the wise! Thanks for the much-needed injection of levity.

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  13. What levity? Praying that this will be the last conference makes sense.


    FWIW
    jimB

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  14. Jim, you have a point. The split has already happened, and it was not Abp. Williams' doing, but surely he could have handled his end of it with more wisdom and class. He acts like someone who has just stepped out after spending 20 years in a cloistered monastery with no contact with the outside world, sort of a latter day Rip Van Winkle.

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  15. This will be an interesting (if nothing else) Lambeth, but I do agree with Elizabeth in fearing what may come out.

    Also, I question how much listening will go on, and how much there really is left to say.

    We'll find out, I suppose.

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  16. It will be a great waste of money, too. I pray TEC's bishops don't capitulate in any major way.

    Still, it can't hurt to pray.

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  17. I actually just found out I'll be attending as a "Young Adult Steward." It may be a waste of money, but it will be interesting to be a fly on the wall (or a pack horse)

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  18. Allie! How exciting! I'd rather the money go to transport you than to transport a bishop. We'll expect regular reports.

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  19. Mimi, I'm taking up a collection (see my blog) :-)

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  20. Oh my- this is quite a prayer. As you know, being the resident RC I won't comment on Lambeth so much, but I am praying for you all.

    I love the use of John. I just took a 4 day intensive on John's Gospel, given by the diocese but actually taught by my pastor.

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