If the efforts of a few people are successful, the Anglican Communion as we know it will not survive to the end of this year. From the right, there are puritan forces who wish to maintain a strict code of moral theology, expelling all those who disagree with their view. From the left, there are those, especially in the US, who believe that we should proceed with our prophetic purpose, regardless of its effects on other people in other cultures.

In other words, our very Communion is threatened.

If you believe that the Anglican Communion should be preserved, despite our many differences, and indeed because of them, there is something you can do. Ask your parish council or vestry to endorse the following statement. Then send a note so that a list can be compiled.

In Dar es Salaam, the Archbishop of Canterbury was told by some American bishops that fully 40% of Americans seek alternate pastoral care. Bishop Bob Duncan helped to produce an incendiary video to encourage the division of the Communion. The schismatics get all the press, while those of us who favor unity have remained quiet. No more! This is the time to speak up.

Please read the statement. Encourage your PCC or vestry to endorse. This does not necessarily mean you agree with progressive stances on moral issues. It just means that we do not wish for the Communion to be divided over them. Stand up and make your voice heard.

The intention is to present this list to the bishops gathered at this summer's Lambeth Conference. We'll also post a list at www.giftofcommunion.org. (Yes, the "we” means that I helped with this effort, which I wholly support.)

If you're a cleric, please put this on the agenda of your next meeting. Lay person? Feel free to bug your priest.

Here's the statement:

"Celebrating the Gift of Communion

In advance of the Lambeth Conference we invite parishes to give thanks for the gift of the Anglican Communion, and to affirm their commitment to its historic generosity. At a time of debate and discernment in our life together we believe the best way forward will not include segregating or excluding those with whom we disagree.

If your church is in agreement with the following statement, please send an email to endorse@giftofcommunion.org listing your name, parish, diocese and province. Please make sure you have the agreement of your parish council or vestry before signing, and note that this invitation is intended for churches, and not individuals. If you have any questions or comments please address them to info@giftofcommunion.org. Please circulate this message to friends and networks.

As Christians, we believe that all people have been made in the image of God. We believe that God loves each and every person with an infinite, never-ending, unconditional love.

As members of the body of Christ, we acknowledge each person's unique and valuable contribution as we seek together to build up that body in love.

As members of the Anglican Communion, we celebrate the gift of our diversity and are committed to being a broad Church that accepts and welcomes difference. We acknowledge our need of God's forgiveness for the sins and failings which harm our shared witness in the world. We believe our unity is rooted in our baptism in Christ, and we will seek to maintain that unity through the grace of the Holy Spirit who lives and works in each one of us.”

Scott Gunn - IC representative,  USA

1. "Living Christianity” for all those who would like to receive the Course Outline.

A huge thank you to all those who have contacted us about Living Christianity. During Lent the first draft was used in three very different parishes within the Diocese of Southwark with encouraging results. It seems that we may have hit on a course which is inclusive in methodology - creating faith community - as well as in content. But that was a draft! I am now editing it and using it while I edit in yet another parish.

The Course will therefore be ready for you - with Leaders' Notes and Participants Notes for each session - at the beginning of May. You may therefore want to launch it or use it during Pentecost.

What am I discovering?

a) That it is particularly useful where people need to get to know each other in a deeper way eg where newcomers may need to get to know long-term members of the congregation beyond the chatter of the coffee hour

b) That people are enjoying the participative exercises and where those have a heavy element of fun involved the course attracts children, perhaps to the first exercise before they go off to use the content in a different way in their own group and then rejoin at the end

c) If you are starting to plan now you may wish to do a shorter course - 5 sessions - or take more time - 7 sessions with a first purely introductory and a last  centred around Holy Communion either in the group or in Church

d) Each session lasts 90 minutes

e) Leaders need about the same length of time each week for preparation of each session

f) It is useful to confirm dates with a second leader who can take the group if you can't be there for one session. Continuity of meeting is part of what makes the whole thing work well

Even the set sent out in May will not be perfect - hopefully we may all perfect it together by giving me feedback along the way! Meanwhile there is considerable interest being shown in this being a longer modular course with the next 5 session Course centred on the meaning of the Anglican tradition.

2. Help at the Lambeth Conference

Plans are firming up for Lambeth though we are in a critical stage as our timetables and events need now to be fitted in the far wider tapestry of event and hospitality planning for the whole Conference Timetable and Site. We have been working closely with all our partner groups through the St Anne's Network but despite that closeness find ourselves in competition over rooms/times/events as others are now controlling where and how we fit. So more next time - Meanwhile dates for your diaries 

1. An invitation to come and work on the Inclusive Church Stall - open in the Market Place 21st July - 1st August

2. Invitations to an

INCLUSIVE EUCHARIST - working with all our partner groups

"Proclaiming God's Justice, Living God's Love”

Saturday 26th July 6.00pm -9.00pm on Campus with Party

Please look in your diaries and see if you can come

"INCLUSIVE IMPERATIVE, ANGLICAN WELCOME”

A seminar supper with the Revd Dr Richard Burridge

Examining the case for an inclusive New Testament Ethic

All welcome - Thursday 31st July 6.30pm - 8.00pm on Campus

3. To all those who came to Drenched in Grace - The Revd Canon Lucy Winkett's talk has been typed at last, now in the editing phase. All those of you who kindly said  at that conference that you would help at Lambeth will be hearing from me! I am hoping that some of you may be able to write prayers around the daily Lambeth Conference Themes so that we may each pray for each other, for the Bishops and their partners, for our Church, our organization and our World and be sustained throughout by this prayer.

Full Lambeth Timetable Next Newsletter

Clare Herbert  -  to contact Clare click on contact us -  if this link doesn't work please go to www.inclusivechurch.net and click on "contact us" there

Our wonderful Treasurer,  Alex Campbell, has said that he is giving up being IC's Treasurer from September.  He's been brilliant and we're extremely grateful for all his help.  

So we need a new one.  The task is not onerous - around 3 or 4 hours a month.  We need someone who is able to keep IC's books,  deal with around 15 transactions a month and prepare the accounts for the Auditor.  If you or anyone you know would be interested in this,  please contact me at office@inclusivechurch.net for more details.  THANK YOU

Giles Goddard

IC is five years old this August.  Incredible to think how quickly the five years have gone.  But depressing to think how little further on the church is than it was then.   Our work continues...

We're having a Fifth Anniversary Celebration at St Mary's Church,  Putney on Saturday 4th October from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m, to include a Eucharist.  It will be a big thanksgiving for the last five years,  and we'll be talking about Lambeth 08 and its consequences.  More details to follow -  but please put the date in your diary! 

Erica Wooff, IC Secretary

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