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2018 Lambeth Conference in Doubt but not Cancelled
By David W. Virtue DD
www.virtueonline.org
Sept. 30, 2014
Will there be a Lambeth Conference in 2018, traditionally held every ten years and called by the Archbishop of Canterbury?
Perhaps, but perhaps not.
The Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, Katharine Jefferts Schori told her bishops that the conference will probably not happen in 2018, which would have fit the conference's traditional 10-year cycle. No planning or fundraising has taken place for a 2018 meeting, she noted.
However, Lambeth spokesman Ed Thornton in an e-mail to VOL, wrote it hasn't been confirmed yet "and we won't be commenting at least until Primates visits are completed."
One Anglican news blog issued a report this week saying the 2018 Lambeth Conference of Bishops has been canceled. Tragically, the author took the sole word of Katherine Jefferts Schori as gospel truth and failed to verify her statement with Lambeth Palace.
"The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has been very clear that he is not going to call a Lambeth [Conference] until he is reasonably certain that the vast majority of bishops would attend. It needs to be preceded by a primates meeting at which a vast majority of primates are present," she said.
Another source told VOL that it will only happen if Welby can persuade enough Global South folk to come, and if they can find the money.
An Anglican bishop told VOL late today that the Archbishop may well postpone Lambeth till 2020.
It is by no means cancelled, it is still too early to say. 2018 is four years away and anything can happen between now and then.
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