Advisory Group Meets Archbishop of Canterbury 2013

Communion Partners in Canterbury
Oct. 30, 2013

Three of the members of the Advisory Group for the Communion Partner (CP) Clergy met in the Old Palace in Canterbury with the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Justin Welby on October 11, 2013. The visit included a morning conversation, Eucharist in the Archbishop’s Chapel, lunch and continuing conversation in the Palace Dining Room.

The Archbishop was interested in learning about the position of CP dioceses and parishes in The Episcopal Church (TEC) so that he might have a greater knowledge and appreciation of the theological diversity of the Anglican landscape in the United States. As the discussion evolved around the nature of the CP fellowship, it was recognized that by remaining in TEC and seeking to meaningfully participate in the Anglican Communion, CP is a community ideally situated for the work of reconciliation. Having been the subdean involved in the Coventry International Center for Reconciliation, Archbishop Justin was keen to encourage us in that role. The Archbishop followed up by expressing his pastoral concern for the bishops and clergy who have answered the call to remain in TEC.

The CP representatives found the Archbishop to be a man full of humility and thoroughly unimpressed with himself. He received the visitors with humility and great caring, he listened intently, and he clearly indicated that, at the appropriate time and place, he was quite willing to make those decisions, both easy and difficult, that he felt were needed in order for the Church to follow the path that Christ has set forth. His record in the business world testifies to the fact that he is quite able and willing to do so, but only once he has fully researched the facts.