The Lambeth Walk: Cantuar speaks

After marching against poverty, about 650 Anglican bishops and their wives enjoyed tea at Buckingham Palace. Read our news report and watch video of the march here. Afterwards, they had lunch in a large marquee at Lambeth Palace. There menu was cold lemon and thyme scented breast of chicken with fresh asparagus and porcini mushroom relish,
summer bean and coriander, tomato, basil and mozzarella served with hot minted new potatoes. Pudding was dark chocolate and raspberry tart with raspberry ripple ice cream, topped off with coffee and white chocolate raspberries. To wash it down they drank Pino Grigio or Chiraz or cranberry and elderflower fruit punch. The cream marquee was decorated with a dozen chandeliers down the middle. Bishops were apparently amazed and thyy know their hospitality. There were orange roses and fans at the side but it was still steaming. Bishops fanned themelves with menus. There were long queues for the plush portable loos with solid wooden flooring, designer handwash and handcream.

Note: the Lambeth Conference is suffering a financial shortfall of between £1 million and £2 million, which is of course nothing to the debt owed by many of the countries represented by the bishops at the lunch.

The picture below by David Marshall shows bishops are waiting for the bus to take them to London for today's 'Walk of Witness'. Every other picture by Times photographer Ben Gurr. Archbishop Rowan's letter to the Prime Minister was released earlier. Read also Archbishop Sentamu in today's Times, criticising the Church's inward looking approach while millions are dying in abject need. Wonderful witness from our Anglican leaders. If only every day could be like this one. More details on the Millennium Development Goals from Micah Challenge.

Here is Cantuar's letter.

Dear Prime Minister,

At the conclusion of this historic walk of witness in which the bishops of the Anglican Communion have been joined by other faith leaders from across the world, we are united in our determination to support the leaders of the world to keep their promise to halve extreme poverty through the Millennium Development Goals framework by 2015. In 2005 in Ireland, and again in 2007 in South Africa, the Anglican Communion collectively committed itself to be ready partners in meeting the goals, with their clear and time bound targets to halve extreme poverty.  Regrettably, despite some important progress in some regions and nations, these goals will not be met for millions of people for whom we have pastoral care. 

In our human family the continuing consequence of failure is the death of millions of women and children from child-birth and preventable childhood diseases.  Millions more have hopes for sustainable life diminished because of poverty-fuelled conflict, lack of education and gender inequality, all of which undermine a new generation’s liberation from HIV.  We add to this now our growing understanding of the poverty and vulnerability created by climate change and the structural injustice in global trade and economics. 

The commitment and progress of the international community to the MDGs thus far is to be commended.  The consistent global leadership of the UK government towards meeting these targets is particularly welcome.  But Christian pastors and other faith leaders cannot stand by while promises are not kept, when nations are tempted by the easier path of preserving their own wealth at the cost of other people’s poverty.

  God’s message of reconciliation calls us to action. Indeed our faith calls us to go beyond the conservative targets set by the Millennium Development Goals merely to halve extreme poverty.  We know that the aspirations of the poor and marginalised are inseparable from our own personal or national fulfilment.  The goal of our faith is that all may have life and have it in its fullness.

For many years the Anglican Communion, alongside other faith communities, has been active in fighting against poverty and injustice. Our struggle is seen not only through prayer and advocacy, but also by directly serving many of the most marginalised people in our world through the daily provision of education, health care, emergency relief and counselling. In this we are among those who build and bear hope for life when hope might otherwise be lost in cycles of violence, drought and disaster. We pay tribute to the inspiring lives lived by countless people as they seek to know and love God amidst the cruelties of poverty and the burdens that women bear disproportionately. 

Because our faith challenges us to eradicate poverty, and not merely to reduce it, we should be all the more alarmed that with the half way mark to 2015 passed, it is clear that most of these achievable targets will not be met. The cause is not a lack of resources, but a lack of global political will.

When they meet in New York at the United Nations on 25th September, world leaders must find greater political commitment to addressing poverty and inequality.  A timetable for achieving the MDGs by 2015 needs to be created. Our leaders need to invest in and strengthen their partnership with the Church worldwide, so that its extensive delivery network for education and health care, alongside other faiths, is fully utilised in the eradication of extreme poverty. 

Even if delivered, the Millennium Development Goals risk being undermined: climate change is already hitting the poorest hardest, and so we urge leaders to commit to ambitious cuts in carbon emissions, appropriate to the size of their economy and historic responsibility.

We call on leaders to meet their targets for spending on development and implementation of national action plans.  We believe that failing to do so amounts to bearing false witness not only to our neighbours, but to ourselves and to our God.  May his kingdom of justice come, and his will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

By joining us at the end of this walk of witness you will have heard our plea.  In receiving these calls from us we hope you also receive the encouragement of the millions of people whom we represent from over 75 countries. We pray that you will continue to drive ahead the concerns we share for the justice and peace in our world which alone is the basis for all human flourishing and commonwealth.

+Rowan Cantuar

Photos David Marshall

Comments

[Soreofhing]

Webster's Ninth New College Dictionary definition:

JUNKET, noun: a festive social affair. a trip made by an official at public expense.

JUNKET, intransitive verb: to feast, to banquet.

Interestingly the next word in the diccionary is:

JUNK FOOD, noun: something that is appealing or enjoyable but of little or no real value.

And even more interestingly the next word is:

JUNKIE, noun: one that derives inordinate pleasure from or that is dependent upon something.

All would seem in some way or other to apply to the Lambeth Conference and the illustrious attendees.

[Rick Beekman]

Dr. Irene Lancaster;

"Jesus was a Jewish Religious Politician" would you care to clarify this remark Please....?

[Rick Beekman]

Ruth;
Your description of the food served sounds yummy! Wish I were there!!

This 3-week meeting sounds like most get togethers of this sort;

"When all is said and done..they're will be more Said then done"...

[David Cohen]

As a result of being "liberal, gay-marriage-blessing women-ordaining" the state Churches of Denmark and Sweden have some of the lowest attendance anywhere in Europe.

[Malcolm+]

"That conservatives give much more than liberals to both secular and non-secular causes is well documented."

The fact that self-serving reactionaries say this repeatedly does not constitute documentation.

It is a made up statistic.

[Fr Mark]

robroy: "That conservatives give much more than liberals to both secular and non-secular causes is well documented." But aren't the world's biggest per capita donors Sweden and Denmark, two nations with, er... liberal, gay-marriage-blessing women-ordaining churches...?

[Dr. Irene Lancaster FRSA]

Rick - Jesus was a Jewish religious politician!

[robroy]

That conservatives give much more than liberals to both secular and non-secular causes is well documented. I object to the MDG's for two reasons. Firstly, it is used as a diversion, "Just ignore how we are tearing the Church apart...what about those MDG's? Aren't they swell!" Secondly, why doesn't the glaring deficiency of the MDG's is the lack of the Great Commission. There have been glaring problems with U.N. human rights (rape of children by "peace-keepers", etc.) Now, we have the U.N. proposing to declare Christianity as anti-Islam defamation. See here, http://tinyurl.com/5cfvbx .

[Albion]

I always find a walk before a sit down luncheon helps sharpen the appetite. Helps me identify with the hungry, too.
If these gentlemen and ladies really wish to help the worst off ( as I think they do), then retreading old ideas isn't the way. Paul Collier's book The Bottom Billion (http://www.amazon.com/Bottom-Billion-Poorest-Countries-Failing/dp/0195311450) analyzes the issues and points some ways ahead. No amount of 'development' will help the poorest countries where kleptocracy, corruption and sheer bad governance are mainly responsible for such misery. Clerics may not be very hot on economics, but they ought to know a thing about morality.

[Rick Beekman]

Malcolm +

Good Thoughts. Actually Jesus also took "Flak" with the Jewish Religious Politicians in his Day.

The difference is Rowan is 100 per cent Human and is trying to balance things between all factions. Jesus was both Human and God. The God side ruled his human side so he could tell those opposed to his teachings The truth with no reservations.

Jesus' reward for being truthful? His crucifixtion. Has anything changed??!!

[John]

The first thing said by Jesus was "Repent - and believe the good news" (Mark 1.15)

Jesus did not need to say very much about "sex" as Malcolm puts it. The Law was well known and not in dispute.

There is much to do in terms of those in need, to which he regularly drew attention. But first comes repentance - before works.

[Stephen Marsden]

Good report, Ruth. What a privilege for you to be there!

rg writes: I know you're being ironic, but just in case other readers don't, I wasn't there! I was given this by a 'source'.

[Malcolm+]

Consider how much Jesus had to say about the sex of those who minister in his name.

Consider how much Jesus had to say about the sex lives of those who follow him.

Then consider how much Jesus had to say about our obligation to the poor, to the hungry, to the thirsty, to the naked, to the sick, to the prisoner, to those in need.

Finally, consider the "conservative" posts above, which demand that Rowan et all ignore item three, on which Jesus had much to say, and instead focus all their attention on items one and two, on which he said very little.

Hmmmm.

[George Parr]

No MickGJ,the mess in their own back yard is usually all they think about and discuss. Addressing world poverty is what they ought to be doing along with a raft of other things. It might even endow them with some sort of social relevance.

It goes without saying of course that this mostly male talking shop proves Margaret Thatcher correct when she said words to the effect that if you want something SAID ask a man, if you want something DONE speak to a woman.

I am not holding my breath over this one...

[Ramon Rodriguez]

USA: July 24th : Today Show: Business Reporter asked on the good and bad business news of the previous day. Good News: 300 billion relief package passed by congress for people who spent above their means and are in danger of defaulting on mortgages held by banks and all types of finantial institutions. Bad News: Seven cent increase to the minimum wage. Ruth, I don't know what to add.

[NewbieAnglican]

Pushing the MDGs seems to be a higher priority for ++Rowan than defending the faith and the faithful.

[David Crawford]

The walk of witness would mean something if the dancing men in purple actually fed some homeless people. TEC talks about MDG's yet contributes just .6 of 1 percent of their budget for the goal. They will easily spend millions more on lawsuits. The communion can't even pay for its own conference to the tune of millions while people starve and need medical attention. Perhaps TEC could cut the number of Bishops in half and donate the money. Great talk but no action. While our Bishop's are attending the yaba daba doo sessions this appears to the world as a giant circus with no ring leader. Let the games continue !!!!

[saint]

Crikey. Bishops marching in support of one of the most bloated,corrupt and ineffective organisations in the world, bishops marching in support of MDG programs many of which have delivered nothing and some of which support actions contradictory to Christian teaching (e.g. abortion) or have indirectly contributed to the death of thousands, and this is some grand witness or something?

Oh wait. Rowan is a self-professed hairy-lefty (did that generation ever grow up and get over their daddy issues?) and we are talking Anglican bishops.

[Fr Mark]

The problem is, though, that bishops can't credibly talk about some kinds of justice issues when they ignore the elephant in their blue tent, or rather the one kept outside the security fence.

[MickGJ]

Rowan C should leave this sort of thing to Bono and sort out the mess in his own back yard.