That Commission has now finished its work and the report will be released in London on October 18 in conjunction with a meeting of the Standing Committee of the Primates and the Standing Committee of the Anglican Consultative Council. Because the content of the report is being kept confidential, there are all kinds of speculations about what it might say.

The press is particularly interested and many of your local papers may be running articles either before or after October 18. Because of that, let me offer some "talking points" should you be placed in a position to speak to this.

1. The Commission will be reporting first to the Archbishop of Canterbury. That report will be made public on October 18. The Primates will consider it at their February, 2005, meeting and the Anglican Consultative Council will address it at their June, 2005, meeting. Part of our polity is that we make decisions in councils after careful and prayerful deliberation. The release of the report on October 18 is important information and will hopefully include recommendations on how to proceed. But it is not the date for a final declaration of some sort.

2. The Commission was not charged with giving a definitive position on homosexuality as many people have been led to believe. It was asked to find ways of keeping the Communion intact when some provinces take action on issues that other provinces find controversial. The Archbishop is keen on finding ways to keep the highest level of communion possible when there are disagreements. In short, the Commission's charge was to seek ways to govern our common life without expecting unanimity in an increasingly globalized world.

3. Discussions in the House of Bishops meeting last week revealed a genuine receptivity and interest in the Commission's work. It is important work that we believe will go far beyond the hope of some that our Province will simply be censured or otherwise disciplined. The Commission's primary concern is to find a way forward. Immediately following the release of the report, the Presiding Bishop will issue a statement in response.

Then the House of Bishops will reconvene in January, 2005, to carefully consider the work being offered by the Commission. I hope that this may help to clarify some obvious misunderstandings about the looming October 18 date. Life before and after that date will look very much the same, though as a Communion we will have helpful guidance on how we will continue to choose to be connected. May Christ's peace rest with us all.

+Larry