Rt Reverend Andrew Andrew Watson, the Bishop of Guildford, provides his Day 1 blog from the Lambeth Conference. He writes..."The Lambeth Conference proper started today, after a relaxing chance for people to acclimatise (and get over their jet lag) on Wednesday. The bishops (around 650 of us in all) met for Day 1 of a Retreat in Canterbury Cathedral, with Bishop Jo and myself leading an enthusiastic walking party from our University base – and had excellent input in a number of different languages punctuated by Morning Prayer, a lunchtime Eucharist and Evensong; while the spouses programme also began with a Retreat and chance to engage in smaller groups for Bible Study and Prayer. "How amazing to meet together with bishops from all over the world, with memorable conversations about the effects of ongoing conflict in South Sudan, of endemic persecution in Pakistan, of climate change in Melanesia; and how humbling to be reminded that the Church of England is only a very small part of a most extraordinary global movement. I imagine there will be challenges in the coming days – but it’s been a really positive start."
As the guest speaker at a synod in Canada, which included the vast northern diocese of the Arctic, I met many first nations people, who have suffered horrifying persecution, often supported, even perpetrated by the Church. One evening they invited us to join their worship but it wasn’t what I was used to. They sang slowly, really slowly. Familiar Anglican hymns took on whole new meanings and values and became a plaintive, heartfelt cry to God, an embodiment of those words from the first letter of Peter, ‘Cast your cares on him.’ Now, the devil hates music. In fact, the devil hates anything that's beautiful or heartfelt. Ugliness and cynicism are his currency, but that evening, I experienced something astonishingly beautiful and deeply felt. And like the prophet Habakkuk dancing on the hills even though there was desolation everywhere, and just as African American spirituals rejoiced in the final victory even though the oppressive conditions they lived in spoke only of defeat, so this slow singing bore witness to the astonishing power of the Christian faith to sustain people through oppression, find resources of hopefulness, and challenge injustice. And so we pray – Holy God, help us to speak about and confront the racism that still exists in our churches and in our world. Teach us to slow down, even to sing and pray more slowly, so that we can really take hold of the amazing grace that, in Christ and through Christ, can set us free. Amen.
As well as the bishops and spouses attending, the conference will involve a number of different teams that have been planning and preparing for the conference for a long time.Please pray for the volunteers and stewards that are sharing their time to supportthe event; the chaplaincy and worship teams who will provide spiritual guidance and pastoral support throughout the conference; the speakers and contributors that will deliver sessions and the wider conference staff.Here is a prayer written by The Church Mission Society. Church of England – working with partners across Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East.Lord, as you have entered into our life and death and in all the world you call us into your death and risen life. Forgive us our sins; and draw us we pray, by the power and encouragement of your Spirit, into an exchange of gifts and needs, joys and sorrows, strength and weakness with your people everywhere; that with them we may have grace to break through every barrier, to make disciples of all peoples and to share your love with everyone for your glory’s sake. Amen.
