Notes of a meeting of the St Anne's Network held at the Allen Room, St Anne's church Soho on Monday 21 January 2008.

Present: Brenda Harrison (I/C)(minutes); Clare Herbert (I/C)(Co chair); Colin Coward (CA); Max Manin (CA)(Co chair); Jeremy Marks (Courage); Stephen Coles (GS group); Christina Rees (WATCH); Barry North (CA); Giles Goddard (I/C); Barry Norris (Aff Cath); Mary Robbins (various!); Adrian Alker (PCN); Tina Beardsley (Clergy Consultation); Mike Dark (EF);  Savi  Hensman (LGCM); David Driscoll (MCU); Henry Mayor (CA); Paul Collier (CC/GS group)

Apologies:

1. Communications Exercise  led by Clare Herbert and Max Manin

Why communicate?

Mutual Understanding; we need to communicate with Bishops in case they think they are the church; because the trinity is about communication and therefore not hierarchical; others need to hear us - to be facilitated by us; others will be making their voice heard; pass on information for coordination; proclaim the Gospel which is ours; build up of mutual support ; Remind people we are here; because Trinity is communicating and non hierarchical; pass on information for co-ordination to avoid mess / duplication.

Who do we want / need to communicate with?

Each other; bishops; wider church; Lambeth office; people who've left church because disenchanted; the media; `Lambeth as opportunity'; those who disagree with us - the misinformed and the prejudiced; disenfranchised; communication is two way.

Core messages from each of our groups

Stephen Coles - Human Sexuality does not need to be the kind of issue that threatens schism - not a first order issue;

Mike - Acceptance of all people is a gospel imperative

Giles - Generous breadth of classical Anglicanism; God of difference

Mary - Positive exploration of creator God who works with difference

Adrian - Look radically at our starting points in theology

Christina - God calls women to be Bishops in the Anglican Communion; women are made in the image of God. Core message has to be rooted in personal story Real people real stories

Paul - We are called to be ambassadors for the kingdom of God not immigration officers

Henry - Full acceptance of LGBT people is fully biblical; use of selective texts to condemn them is not 

Barry North - inclusivity of all people not just protest groups

Savi - Justice and human rights for all lgbt people world wide should be a concern to all Anglicans

Tina - celebrating who we are

Colin - LGBT people are created by God; LGBT people are every where in the communion

Barry Norris - nature of the Anglican Communion - what does catholicity actually mean? Catholicity acknowledges diversity of creation, diversity of the Communion

Jeremy - stop feasting on the forbidden fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil and find our sustenance from the Tree of Life which comes from Christ.

Brenda - it's not inconsistent to be evangelical and inclusive

David - misgivings over covenant; where is Episcopal authority? - in being servants

Clare - what is it to be fully human?

Common threads

Honesty - about what it is to be human? What is it to be church?

Interrogate idea of what Biblical teaching is

Revelation of truth - Imposed on or Revealed to?

Is the Spirit still at work - if so, in whom?

We are all Anglicans - remember what Anglicanism is, scripture reason and tradition

Remind bishops of what it is to be Anglican

What it means to be human, to be biblical, to be Christian and to be Anglican

Read Bible with the whole self, mind, heart and body

Tensions

Vision - general; and Causes - particular

No tensions just difference

May be a tension of `volume'   (women may be overlooked against other issues)

Media will like particular `volumes'

Tension of bearing the burden of others' condemnation & fear

We will pick up tensions for the Bishops

Competitiveness because of different volumes (not everyone comfortable with LGBT issues)

Tension of stigmatisation

Knowledge cultural difference power

Tension of not being on course with Bishops

Difference in resources -practical and financial

If LGBT issues are not considered as important as development/poverty issues by the Bishops, then we can call the end to `first order' discrimination.

What can we do together and what do we need to do apart?

Strapline.   Following an exercise in pairs, discussing six options - proclaiming God's Justice, Living God's Love received 11 votes, runner up All of Us with 4 votes.  Question raised about the use of the word Justice - whether it will be divisive; after further discussion, the justice strap line was overwhelmingly approved.

2. Adrian's book project

Adrian presented a paper outlining the concept of the proposed book.   Agreed that he should continue working on the project along the lines circulated. He will investigate publication options and funding.

3 The Lambeth Conference launch

Giles reported that the Lambeth Conference was officially launched today at Lambeth Palace. 70% of Bishops have registered to attend.  ++Rowan said he was concerned about the decision to hold GAFCON given the lack of consultation with the Bishop of Jerusalem.

4. Administration

Brenda reported that we have now reserved 15 additional bed spaces at Ebury Hotel cottages in Canterbury; 40 requests for accommodation have been received. I/C Executive has agreed to cover the costs of the Communication centre, and will seek to raise funds for this. Only two groups have notified dates for fringe events - these should be decided on as soon as possible to be sure of securing rooms.

5. AOB Henry asked whether groups were being encouraged to get involved with the hospitality for Bishops pre Lambeth-conference. This will be considered at a future meeting.

Future meetings 18th February  17th March 21st April   19th May 16th June

7th July  22nd September

Notes written by BH 21 January 2008