14th lambeth conference takes off in england

Mongezi Mhlongo (BTM Intern)

AFRICA ABROAD – July 17, 2008: The much anticipated 14th Lambeth Conference took off yesterday 16 July 2008 in Canterbury, England. This year’s gathering hopes to unravel and bring to the fore, reasons leading to divisions within the Anglican Church.

Homosexuality, as one of the issues that have always been dividing the Anglican Church, is the burning issue to be discussed at this Conference.

Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Cantuar Williams, said on the Lambeth’s Official website, that the main aim of the conference is that “We become more confident in our Anglican identity, by deepening our awareness of how we are responsible to and for each other”.

The conference, which has met much criticism from about 250 Bishops who have also threatened to boycott it as they oppose the ordination of homosexual and women Bishops, will end on 3 August.

This division was also widened by the ordination of the gay Bishop Gene Robinson in 2003. The argument is that the Bible teaching on homosexuality is being ignored.

The Anglican Church throughout Africa has continuously slammed homosexuality with the exception of a few Bishops who believe that homosexuality is not a sin. 

According to Director of Changing Attitudes Nigeria (CAN) Davis Mac-Iyalla “it is important that we mount a strong LGBT presence, to encourage the Bishops in the whole of the Anglican Communion to start listening to us rather than talking about us”.

Mac-Iyalla is one of the African leaders who will be present at the Lambeth Conference, addressing the core reason for divisions within the Anglican Church, homosexuality.

CAN echoed the same sentiments highlighting “CAN leaders at Lambeth will make present, to the assembled Bishops at Lambeth, the truth that in every part of Africa and in every African Anglican province, LGBT people are present and active in the Church”.

The Lambeth conference attempts to resolve existing divisions, and any other issues affecting the Anglican Church. It is held once each decade, housing Anglican Bishops from around the globe.
 
The first ever conference was held at the Lambeth Palace, residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury in 1867. This year the conference will be held at the University of Kent.