Meeting with Windsor Report Reception Group


Representatives of British and American Anglican organisations supportive of an inclusive Church (See notes(a)) met the Secretariat of the Windsor Report Reception Reference Group (See note (b)) at the Anglican Communion Offices in London on Tuesday 1st February 2005.

The Secretariat of the Reception Reference Group asked for a representative group of lesbian and gay advocacy and ministry groups to be gathered for a single meeting and asked for names and organisations who might wish to attend. The Secretariat invited those nominated to attend.

The secretary to the Reception Reference Group (and Deputy Secretary General of the Anglican Communion), Canon Gregory Cameron chaired the meeting. There was a frank exchange of views regarding the Windsor Report, its process and conclusions. Papers relating to the reception of the Windsor Report were presented and discussed.

The Reverend Richard Kirker, General Secretary of the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement who attended the meeting commented today (3rd February 2005)

“The meeting was difficult but helpful. We feel the present crisis in the Anglican Communion comes from the failure of the Primates to initiate serious dialogue promised by Lambeth Conferences in 1978, 1988 and 1998. We note that Paragraph 146 of the Windsor Report (See note (c)) makes these talks a priority and we look forward to the structures being put in place across the whole Communion.”

Commenting on reports from an American commentator that the meeting should not have taken place Mr Kirker said:

“Sadly there are those who are willing to misrepresent any truth or any facts to further their agenda. We are fully aware that the meeting with groups like ours was just one of many such meetings the Reception Reference Secretariat have held, most of them with groups totally opposed to our view. Many people may find this hard to believe but there are Christian groups who believe our voice should not be heard at all. Our formal response to the Windsor Report Has Anglicanism A Future? by Prof Andrew Linzey provides a detailed critique of its flaws and the reasons for our rejecting its main conclusions.”

Ends

Notes for Editors:

(a) Groups represented were; Integrity Inc (USA); LGCM-Anglican Matters; Changing Attitude; Clergy Consultation; Inclusive Church; General Synod Human Sexuality Group.

(b) Windsor Report Reception Process

The work of the Lambeth Commission on Communion was commissioned by the Archbishop of Canterbury in October 2003, following the special meeting of the Primates and Moderators of the Anglican Communion at Lambeth Palace in that month.

The official process of reception for the Windsor Report 2004 therefore begins in February 2005 at the next regular meeting of the Primates and Moderators which is scheduled for February 20th - 26th in Northern Ireland.

In order to prepare for this meeting, the Archbishop of Canterbury, in conjunction with the Primates' Standing Committee, has appointed a Reception Reference Group, under the chairmanship of the Most Revd Peter Kwong, Primate of Hong Kong, to assist the primates by monitoring the way in which the Windsor Report has been received across the Anglican Communion, and by our ecumenical partners.

The members of the Reception Reference Group are:
* Archbishop Peter Kwong, Primate, Hong Kong, Chair
* Archdeacon Jim Boyles, Provincial Secretary, Canada
* Bishop John Gladstone, Bishop of South Kerala, South India
* Dr Ishmael Noko, General Secretary, Lutheran World Federation
* Bishop Kenneth Price, Suffragan Bishop of Southern Ohio, USA
* Bishop James Tengatenga, Bishop of Southern Malawi
* Bishop Tito Zavala, Bishop of Chile

Staff Consultants are:
* Canon Gregory Cameron, ACO, Secretary
* Canon John Rees, ACC, Legal Adviser
* Revd Sarah Rowland Jones, CPSA
(c)
146.
We remind all in the Communion that Lambeth Resolution 1.10 calls for an ongoing process of listening and discernment, and that Christians of good will need to be prepared to engage honestly and frankly with each other on issues relating to human sexuality. It is vital that the Communion establish processes and structures to facilitate ongoing discussion. One of the deepest realities that the Communion faces is continuing difference on the presenting issue of ministry by and to persons who openly engage in sexually active homosexual relationships. Whilst this report criticises those who have propagated change without sufficient regard to the common life of the Communion, it has to be recognised that debate on this issue cannot be closed whilst sincerely but radically different positions continue to be held across the Communion. The later sections of Lambeth Resolution 1.10 cannot be ignored any more than the first section, as the primates have noted[102]. Moreover, any demonising of homosexual persons, or their ill treatment, is totally against Christian charity and basic principles of pastoral care. We urge provinces to be pro-active in support of the call of Lambeth Resolution 64 (1988) for them to “reassess, in the light of ? study and because of our concern for human rights, its care for and attitude toward persons of homosexual orientation”[103].