Lambeth Diary: the 'Clean and the Unclean'

My suspicions have been alerted by the helpful comment from 'anon' on the previous post. At Lambeth, the journos have been divided into the 'clean' and 'unclean'. You can guess which mob I'm corralled in with, and some of you probably think I deserve it. See my latest here. But pause to think for a moment. After dealing with a thankfully long-gone staff member at Lambeth Palace, a former senior editor at The Times told me, his voice shaking with stunned incredulity: 'They're just like the Communist Party.' He meant the Communist Party before the wall came down. Read and believe if you like the official stuff trickling in a tghtly-controlled way out of Jim Rosenthal's entirely independent press operation operating from a place I've yet to track down somewhere on the university campus. This is where the 'on side' 'journalists', many of whom seem by coincidence to wear episcopal clerical collars, are permitted to hang out. I am sure the citizens of the former USSR were similarly enlightened by what Pravda produced on a daily basis. The real operation, the concrete prison where proper journalists do their work, is being run by the staff from Church House. Peter Crumpler and his minions, themselves shut away in an even more terrible bleak hole of a broom cupboard than our own, are brilliant. (Update: Incredibly, TEC might be coming to our rescue. A series of unofficial bishop briefings is to be organised, beginning this evening. I've been asked to make clear that these are nothing at all to do with the official Lambeth press operation.)

There's nothing like a Lambeth Conference or two to swing me back into the conservative camp. Here I am, separated from the leaders of the Anglican Communion, of which I happen to be a covenanting member, by a ten foot wall. I've helped pay for this! Oh it makes me so cross.

Ok then, it's not a wall, merely a security fence. And it's probably closer to eight feet than 10, a closer inspection today has established. It comes complete with security guards. The wire lacks barbs but I'll try and supply those. I guess David Virtue, George Conger and Riazat Butt and I, all equal in our exclusion, are the 'terrorists'. I'm telling them, a three-foot fence of hurdles, or even a green line made of ribbon, would have been enough. Or even, they could have just asked us not to go in the Big Blue Top. But no. Forget simple human means of exchange. The staff running the Anglican Communion Office have moved beyond that. They're probably wearing bomb-proof vests under their copes in case my pen is loaded with a bullet. Pathetic.

No wonder a quarter of the Anglican Communion's bishops have stayed away. It can't be any coincidence that the boycotters are, by and large, the ones who understand how to talk to a fellow human being with dignity, and not turn their backs on them and shun them, as one of the more liberal primates did in the registration queue yesterday. Inclusivity, yes, but only if you're 'on message'. Maybe this is why the Telegraph hasn't bothered to show up yet. I consider it my duty to be here, though, and report the disgraceful shambles my Church is descending into. How long I can bear to remain a member of it myself remains to be seen. I'll let you know in three weeks. But I will probably follow the example of the most excluded of all, Bishop Gene Robinson, whose blog of what is going on here is a far more accurate reflection of the truth than the weak propaganda trickling out of the Anglican Communion office. He's staying in to fight the good fight. I'll be joining him on Sunday at St Stephen's Church in Canterbury, a truly inclusive Anglican church in Canterbury, where Susan Russell of Integrity will be preaching at a eucharist on Sunday afternoon.

On result of all this is that I am starting to see Gafcon, where all these photos were taken by the BBC, in a more positive light.

Watch BBC 2's This World: ‘Battle of the Bishops' on July 21 at 7pm.

Here's what the Beeb says about it: 'With the worldwide Anglican Church on the brink of an historic split.  Ben Anderson goes behind the scenes with the key players in the splinter movement – called Gafcon – in the run up to their conference in Jerusalem. They are traditionalists with a hard line approach to homosexual relationships, and their key stronghold is Africa. With unique access, the film follows the Primate of Nigeria Peter Akinola, also known as the Hammer of God, as he expounds his robust view of Christianity in conflict with the liberal leadership in Britain and America.'

And here are some of the juicier quotes:

Peter Akinola, Nigerian primate, Lambeth boycotter:

'Gafcon is a rescue mission – it is our duty to rescue whatever is left of the church from error. From all those. Whoever they are, who have chosen to mutilate, to distort and to even deny the Gospel and to preach something different from what we know.'

Benjamin Kwashi, Archbishop of Jos, Lambeth boycotter, likely successor to Akinola:

'At Lambeth 98 we were looking for a place where we can cry our hearts out and pray and look for the support of the wider Church who would bless us and pray for us. You don’t need much money you just need some words of encouragement, those things were absent.' 

'Respect is earned. When it is thrown away, gathering it can be difficult. From the Mother Church of England, there is the assumption that therefore we can do anything and Africans will automatically come with us, or respect us. I think that is an insult.

'So now Gafcon is an alternative to that where we can cry together, look at our struggles, HIV and Aids problems, infant mortality, - all those issues that dehumanises us as Africans…The wider Anglican world if you ask my opinion don’t want to listen to us.'

Bishop of Washington, John Chane, leading liberal and a good guy among the rest:

'I think it’s really very dangerous when someone stands up and says I have the way and I have the truth and I know how to interpret holy scripture and you are following what is the right way. I think it’s really very, very dangerous and I think it’s demonic…the Episcopal Church has been demonised. It has been a punching bag and I’m sick of being a punching bag as a Bishop and I’m sick of my church, my province being a punching bag. Do we deserve criticism, absolutely. No question about it.'

Comments

[Mark Harris]

Ruth... saw you on your bike, talking to Gene, the Vicar of all Putney, etc. You like them, you like GAFCON folk, you like the Bishop of Washington, a variety of wonderful odds and ends of Anglicans. The fact that the media gang out of Lambeth wants to manage everything is doomed. They can't manage your talking to the people who matter, for those people are likely to feel as much on the edge of the "talking point - managed life" stuff as you.

You are in the right place. The folks on the other side of the managed wire are in the wrong place. As the weeks go by your identifying badge may become a welcome sign.

I think the Lambeth guards are living in fear that real friendships will break out, or things get out of control. Wouldn't that be something.

Keep on keeping on.

3/4 of your writing is absolutely wonderful in my eyes. The other 1/4 misses the mark. That is about right for an Anglican, and better than most.

A fan.

(rg writes: thank you so much you've no idea how much better you've made me feel, that is high praise coming from you am v appreciative.)

[John]

The best column I have seen for ages - how refreshing to see Lambeth as it really it is, a 1950s Soviet Congress, churning out Panglossian propaganda, when everyone outside knows it is all a sham.

Thank goodness for the internet and email, so that people's eyes can be opened to what is going on.

Thank you Ruth.

[Peter O]

Ruth,

For comparison, can you give us a picture of how you were treated as a journalist at the GAFCON pilgrimage?

(rg writes: I did a CEN column and previous blog on it. They were quite good. I didn't treat them that well, getting the Gafcon 8 story and so on, but they were admirably forgiving and prayed for me a lot. From Gafcon, I would have liked a full list of names of who was there, which we never got. At least we know who is and is not at Lambeth. Also, it is nothing personal against me at Lambeth. It is a sort of institutionalised fear and loathing of the press. It was like this at my first one in 1988, 1998 and it is still like this now, so it's been going a long time. Clifford Longley's fault? I don't think so.)

[Anon]

Ruth, apparently there is a much bigger event happening in Australia at the moment. You may still be able to catch it. Probably more fun, and there may actually be something to report about?

http://www.wyd2008.org/

[Chris Gillibrand]

With Apologies to the late great Messrs Flanagan and Allen.

We're going to hang out the washing on the Lambeth Line.
Have you any dirty washing, bishop dear?
We're gonna hang out the washing on the Lambeth Line.
'Cause the day of reckoning’s here.
Whether the religion may be high or dry.
We'll just rub along without a care.
We're going to hang out the washing on the Lambeth Line.
If the CofE's still there.

Mother dear, I'm writing you from somewhere in Kent
Hoping this finds you well.
Vicar says I'm doing fine - a journalist and a half
Here's a song that we all sing
This'll make you laugh...

[robroy]

Re: John Chane's remark, "I think it’s really very dangerous when someone stands up and says I have the way and I have the truth and I know how to interpret holy scripture and you are following what is the right way. I think it’s really very, very dangerous and I think it’s demonic."

"Interprets" plain words of scripture in a manner that 99% of Christians living and 100% of Christians past agree with is demonizing??? Talk about the big lie.

Regarding false teachers such as Mr Chane, Peter had this to say:

"For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of sinful human nature, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity. 2 Peter 18-19"

"...the Episcopal Church has been demonised." Now, that's something we do agree about.

[David Chislett]

Dear Ruth,

I remember you from your 1998 Lambeth Conference visits to the Forward in Faith "safe house" over the road, and respect your integrity (even when what you write occasionally infuriates me!)

But it's not a bad thing to be reminded at the outset of this Lambeth that the REAL fundamentalists are not the evangelicals or the FiF Anglo-catholics. The REAL fundamentalists are the schmarmy "let me feel your pain" reductionist liberals who control the official agenda. Their record speaks for itself - all over the "Communion." If they cannot crush those with contrary views, they will make sure that the in-house media airbrushes out any uncomfortable truths.

It is unfortunate that they will be truly Ruthless in every sense this time round.

[Huw Richardson]

Let me add my praise: I don't always agree with what you write, but I can't fault you for hiding behind official lines.

As Mark rightfully says, " The fact that the media gang out of Lambeth wants to manage everything is doomed." It was that way when I worked for the Episcopal Church Center in NYC, too. The Official Line is as tightly controlled as ever: but the internet, in places like these pages and Mark's blog, keeps blowing the lid off the official line (pardon the mixed metaphor)

The people who don't want to talk - pulling to their sectarian sides - are the folks we have to worry about. Folks like you, who manage to welcome even those who don't agree with them - that's rather Jesus-like.

Being on the outside is just where a real journalist should be.

[EPfizH]

Ms. Gledhill, you make reference to Mr. Rosenthal above: "Read and believe if you like the official stuff trickling in a tghtly-controlled way out of Jim Rosenthal's entirely independent press operation operating from a place I've yet to track down somewhere on the university campus" but provide a link to: http://lambeth2008.blogspot.com/ That is Bishop Porter Taylor's blog. Could you correct that? I would really be interested in the Rosenthal reference. Thanks

[Lapinbizarre]

To lump you and Riazat Butt in with Virtue and Conger after the excellent job the two of you did of reporting on Gafcon is surreal. Who on earth qualifies as "Our Side"?

[dave paisley]

While transparency is a nice goal, neither side covers themselves in glory here. And in defence of the PTB (not that I know any or am anything other than an observer from afar) you have given them precious little to presume that your reporting would be objective (sad, given that you represent a major mainstream newspaper).

Honestly, if you want to lump yourself in with the ever-so-inaptly named Virtue, you only have yourself to blame.

This piece itself is more revealing of your petulance than anything else...

[Dr. Irene Lancaster FRSA]

It's not for nothing that the liberals tend to hate liberal Israel and love those who kill innocent little girls, such as the Arab prisoner who has just been released in exchange for the two Israeli soldiers, illegally abducted and then murdered by Lebanese militia:

http://irenelancaster.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/07/the-jewish-people-and-the-world-eternal.html

It is the so-called 'liberals' in the Church who use who use unacceptable antisemitic language in their support of all things Islam and contempt for all things Jewish. They are actually far worse than any Palestinian Christians I've ever met. A bit like those British so-called 'academics' who support the university boycott of Israel. Arab academics in Israel tend to be embarrassed by boycotts (well, they'd be out of a job, wouldn't they) and have told me so to my face (but not publicly - they don't want to be murdered, do they?)

Talking of which, a friend of mine tells of me of an impeccably dressed ultra-Orthodox Anglo- Jewish woman who was visitng Israel at the time of the GAFCON conference and staying at the Renaissance Hotel in Jerusalem, where delegates were based.

An African priest came up to her and made her day by asking if she were the wife of the Bishop!

So carry on telling the truth as it is. Even for us non-Anglicans, it's extremely interesting to see the spirit of liberal Christian ecumenism at work and at play.

Which is why the photos are such a good idea as well.

[David Crawford]

It will be interesting to see if the Chane gang and I heard from the Holy Spirit while I was an alchoholic Robinson will be reaching out to the Muslim community in England with the message of gay and womens rights. Good luck to them !!!!

[David M. Allen]

I too am a fan but perhaps only because I am also the son of an Anglican priest -- its good to see one of us "PKs' doing well.

But of course we feel especially bad, since the Church has been for us in a more intimate fashion "our home" and so we feel sad to be expelled from home. In my case because of my opposition to women's ordination and anything-goes sexual morality -- in your case, simply because you have a habit of letting folks know what is really going on, at least in so far as you can figure out what is really going on.

Thanks for the news, good and bad, from home.

Fr. David Allen SSC

[Anon]

Ruth, here are some more story ideas:

- there will be 2 million aids orphans in Southern Africa by 2010. What is the Anglican church doing to support these kids? Do a google on Nkosi Johnson for a nice human face element to the story.
- How is the Anglican church dealing with child abuse amongst its leaders? Are they covering it up like the Catholic church did or being open?
- What is the Anglican church doing to address its meltdown in membership in the West?
- What does the church in Sudan look like after the civil war there? Where do they meet?
- What is the position of the Anglican Communion about Todd Bentley and the Florida revival?

[San Ying]

Why don't the conference participants just STOP talking and DO The Lamberth Walk?

[Dr. Irene Lancaster FRSA]

To lapinbizzare, George Conger is one of the most experienced journalists in this field. His knowledge of international Church matters is unsurpassed, and I understand that he wrote the official biography for the last Lambeth Conference.

He is also extremely knowledgeable about other religions.

What on earth could you possibly have against him?

[KM]

"How long I can bear to remain a member of it myself remains to be seen. I'll let you know in three weeks."

I don't think you're seriously thinking of leaving, Ruth, but if you are, please bear in mind that righteous indignation is exactly what churches need.
Especially from those who love and remain within.

Be cross. It is all ludicrous. Shame them with your writing. But walking out of the church would be just as petty as caging our leaders behind an eight-foot fence.

[Charles Elvy]

Whilst the gathered bishops are indaba-ing, the Archbishop of Canterbury's task of holding together the Church of England just got harder. The senior Anglo-Catholic priest who contributed much to the development of alternative strategies by the Manchester Group has tendered his resignation from the Legislative Drafting Group that is charged with developing the Code of Practice.

Post-General Synod: A Statement from Fr Jonathan Baker
Jul 17, 2008

I have submitted my resignation from the Women Bishops Legislative Drafting Group to its Chairman, the Bishop of Manchester.

General Synod has asked the WBLDG to bring forward a Code of Practice in February 2009 as part of draft legislation on the ordination of women to the episcopate for first consideration in that group of sessions. The Code is intended to provide pastoral and sacramental care for those unable to accept this development.

I am unable to commend simple draft legislation which is coupled with a Code of Practice to Synod and the wider Church, and therefore consider it inappropriate that I continue to serve on the committee charged with so doing.

I have argued consistently that a Code of Practice cannot address the fundamental ecclesiological and sacramental concerns of those opposed to the ordination of women to the episcopate. The implementation of simple legislation and a Code of Practice will effectively bring to an end the period of open reception on the disputed question of the ordination of women which has enabled members of the Church of England with differing views to live together in one Church since 1994. A Code of Practice can, therefore, be only short-term provision, lacking theological integrity as well as legal security.

The vote on the 7th July in York (which anticipates, among other things, the abolition, rather than the development, of the ministry of the Provincial Episcopal Visitors) leaves the Church of England facing a real pastoral, as well as legal and theological, problem, of how to honour its commitment to provide an assured and equal place for those unable to accept the ordination of women to the episcopate. While my contribution to the particular work of the WBLDG is now complete, I remain wholly committed to playing my part, not least with Forward in Faith, in seeking a way forward for the Church.

I am glad to be able to take this opportunity of thanking the Bishop of Manchester, my former colleagues on the WBLDG, and the staff of Church House who served that Group so ably, for the constructive way in which the work of the Group, in its first phase, was carried out, and for the respect and careful attention which they all accorded the views which I set out.

Jonathan Baker

17th July 2008

[Fr. Van Windsor]

I am reminded of W. C. Fields who supposedly wanted his tombstone to read, "On the whole, I'd rather be in Philadelphia."

[saint]

Ah well Ruth, you know what they say: scratch a liberal, find a fascist. You should have come down here to cover World Youth Day.

Much more fun (and apparently spiffy facilities for journos too)

[riazat butt]

Hi there, I really hope I'm in the dirty bunch. I'd hate to think I was clean. BTW did you bring your own bike or did you hire one?

(rg writes: brought my own bike but have a spare if you want one. Brought two, just in case.)

[Dr. Irene Lancaster FRSA]

Dear Ruth

You would always be welcome in one of our synagogues.

[An Ethnic Christian]

Dear Editor,
Reference to your headline 'Botcott Bsihops of weakening the Body of Christ', the African bishops are absolutely right on their stand. They are not boycotting the body of Christ, as the COE has long lost its connection with Christ and his message.The bishops understand why people are leaving the Church in England. The COE is one of the richest exclusive clubs in the world. african Bishops are accused of undermining collegiality, doesn't that say it all. It is not collegiality that is central but Jesus's central uncompromiing message then and now. Love for each other did not mean the apostles were asked to do whetever they wished in the name of that love for God. The COE sold out the true Christian gospel long time ago with their politics and power. As your paper points out, why do we need these Bishops. When did Jesus or his apostles live in Palaces! Dear Bishops, at this conference take a stand, give up your clokes, your palaces, go in search of the poor and the destitutes and tell them about how Christ lived his life in poverty and what his rich message for us all, but don't go to see them wearing your glamourous red gear, with your gleaming gold crosses or in your Mercedes Benz cars!

[Lapinbizarre]

On the final day of the Gafcon conference, Irene Lancaster, George Conger unleashed a strong attack on, of all people, Gregg Griffith of Stand Firm. Griffith had inadvertently published the draft of the final communiqué ahead of the agreed time. Conger's attacks, which included the statement "Shame on you for ruining the final day of the conference", pretty effectively put paid to any claim he might have to be regarded as an objective commentator on the current disruptions in the Anglican communion. It would, as I said, be a discourtesy to Ms Gledhill & Ms Butt to lump them with Virtue & Conger as commentators.

[Malcolm+]

The problem here is that nobody on either side seems to have much of a clue about how to do effectve (and ethical) media relations.

Thus they've created a vaccuum - one which will inevitably be filled by people with their own agenda(e) to pedal.

[Dr. Mike Homfray]

I don't think we can call those running the show 'liberals' - institutional 'keep the thing afloat at all costs' is more accurate. After all, if they were that liberal, why isn't Gene Robinson an official delegate? What they want is some sort of compromise, not the liberal outcome promoted by Inclusive Church, Changing Attitude et al.

[Douglas LeBlanc]

Dear Ruth,

Please consider posting photos of the room in which real journalists have been secluded this year.

I'm glad to know that the conference planners at least showed the good Anglican taste of changing the badge colors. Maybe by 2018 they will have discovered the basic Christian concept that whatever is done in secret will not remain secret forever.

Douglas LeBlanc
Veteran of the 1998 conference press corps

[Jeeves]

Why such vitriol against the Lambeth Conference?! Why not appreciate the positive aspects of the conference, rather than focusing on the negative?! There is more that unites the communion than divides it; the problem arises with a negative, pushy media who are far too intent on seeking out the bad things and not acknowledging the good things of this conference, like communication between the bishops who have bothered to turn up!!!

[Robt. Zacher]

Yes Ruth, quit whining and being being such a prima donna. It's not becoming and it seriously compromizes the credibility of what you will be called on to report later. It's only the second day of the conference, for Pete's sake. What's with all the photos of those Nigerians?

[scotte]

The big difference that springs to my mind between GAFCON and Lambeth is that those at GAFCON were specifically looking for an immediate audience. Lambeth is supposed to be an opportunity for the bishops to pray and talk together and meet in small groups to renew their shared sense of faith and mission. Seems to me that "micro-reporting" of what's going on (along the same lines as micro-managing projects) would be bad for those processes.
Not to say they aren't doing a miserable job of conveying such differences and alienating lots of good folk in the process.

[Tom Moderate]

The problem here, Ruth, is that you and Riaz are just non-fiction Trollopes and that religion has always been about rewriting history as fiction

Remember that this is a global corporate's jamboree with wives - a strictly private event - hence the wire fences

The international corporate relations department is naturally emphasising the positive and doing its best to avert public gays from controversy

[Doxy]

"It can't be any coincidence that the boycotters are, by and large, the ones who understand how to talk to a fellow human being with dignity, and not turn their backs on them and shun them"

The same boycotters who have called LGBTs lower than animals, hooligans, and homicidal drug addicts? (+Akinola, +Orombi)

The same boycotter who brags about jumping back in revulsion when he realized he had shaken hands with an openly gay man? (+Akinola)

I am simply stunned by that statement.

[Jenny]

Ruth, you are being managed like a victim being lulled into a cult. Do you believe that spending time with the very man, Gene Robinson, who along with his fascistic cohorts in TEC leadership aren't the ones pulling the strings? The entire thing is stage managed.

And your holding up Chane as a good bishop? He attacked African Anglicans as demonic, for daring to stand up to the corruption being promoted by TEC leadership.. you are aware of that.. now for you to pretend otherwise is dishonest and disrespectful.

TEC didn't forbid Robison to attend, but they did demand that those GAFCon attendees and TEC bishops and priests who have reaffiliated with the Southern Cone have their invitations be rescinded, at the last minute.

In all honesty, you yourself are putting up a false front to promote false truths to your readers, and you should be ashamed.

[Alex M]

Intriguing how sexuality is an issue in both the RC church and the Anglican Communion at the moment. The Anglicans are fighting over how to deal with the issue of homosexuality, the RC church is choosing not to talk about abuse of minors (at least, not while in Australia). I know which I prefer.

[Malcolm+]

I've read the stories about Chane's comments re: the Africans. Apart from one headline, there is no evidence that he called them "demonic."

Now, most people don't realize that the journalist does not write the headline. The headline is written by an editor who has only the story to go on.

In the story, Chane does say that the US Church has been "demonized" - surely a simple statement of fact. That is the only quote attributed to Chane of Washington which is remotely close to the word "demonic."

Frankly (barring further evidence down the road), it appears that Chane is being demonized for the error of an English editor.

[J Pearce]

"Ah well Ruth, you know what they say: scratch a liberal, find a fascist."

Thats funny, i'm sure it was actually "scratch a Christian, find a fascist". Because liberal secularists were sooo helpful in propping up the Nazi regime in 30's Germany, unlike those conscientious Catholics of course...cough...

Saint, you do realise, of course, that were it not for liberals, your country would still be persecuting aborigines for the godawful crimes of actually living there before you did? Did that cross your mind?

Guess not.

[David Chislett]

ON MISTAKING THE ANGLICAN "COMMUNION" FOR THE BODY OF CHRIST

Are those who stay away from Lambeth "wounding the Body of Christ"?

Historically, every tradition within Anglicanism has agreed on one thing: that the Church of England, and then later the Anglican Communion, is a tiny part of a far greater whole. (As Aussie Anglo-Catholics sometimes heard it said in all humility at confirmation class, the Anglican Church is "a pimple on the backside of the Body of Christ"!)

The arrogance of modern liberal Anglicanism is to believe that it can act as if it is - on its own - the whole. The determination to assert legitimacy for what it is doing to ordinary old "basic Christianity", let alone any specifically "catholic" or "evangelical" understanding of it, has led to a bullying marginalisation of all whose teaching, practice and opinions demonstrably coincide with what the "wider" Church - the Body of Christ - has taught from the beginning and continues to teach today.

While there is always a role for speculative theology, "local" ACTION based on that theology before it has been discerned by the "whole", however long it takes, is actually opposite to what we are committed to by Anglican formularies themselves. (Indeed, it is usually maintained that even the Anglican Reformers of the 16th century and the Divines of the Caroline period understood the Reformation as a freeing of the English Church from purely western European idiosyncrasies and a return to the faith of the "whole", as predicated on the Scriptures and teaching of Church of the Fathers.)

So, in 2008, being absent from the Lambeth Conference is one way that some bishops have decided not to identify with those who are further "wounding of the Body of Christ", and turning the minority of Anglicanism into a parody of itself.