In this update I want to note the London Day last week when the entire group made the three- hour bus trip to the city and participated in the Walk of Witness in support of the MDG’s, after which we were treated to events of memorably gracious hospitality at Lambeth and Buckingham Palaces.
Though the social events were beyond what most of us had ever experienced and ever will again, the spirit of the day was carried by the Walk of Witness in which more than 1,000 of us marched with placards in support of action to eradicate poverty and dire consequences it perpetuates. Though it was an unthreatening scene and a quite pleasant walk through town, simply being in the streets and saying publicly something of import made the Gospel itself seem more real and present.
At the end of the walk we heard the Archbishop of Canterbury call all to Gospel imperative action for the poor, followed by a passionately powerful speech by Prime Minister Gordon Brown focusing on the same imperatives for governments and nations.
Injecting the spirit of the Witness Walk into the Lambeth Conference makes this an opportune time to note that one of the concerns expressed repeatedly at this conference is that what is being referred to as the “Western agenda” – meaning primarily North America – will dominate and that we will focus on sexuality, covenant, etc. to the exclusion or diminishment of far greater magnitude world concerns such as starvation, lack of education, and unavailable health care for millions of people.
Bishops from some of the most devastatingly poor countries have said to me that discussion of sexuality and like concerns are a luxury of the rich compared to the life threatening circumstances they must address daily. It reminds one of the scripture, “Your concerns are not my concerns,” says the Lord. And certainly challenges us to put in perspective that which is of highest priority.
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Thank you for these updates, Bishop. I await each new one with earnest. You are in my prayers, as always!
It is interesting to know that the arguments surrounding sexuality are being seen as a North American agenda, given that it always seems that the poor provinces of Uganda, Nigeria, and Kenya seem to be driving that debate. Is it possible that their primates are standing in the way of their bishops? I wonder how many of the Nigerian bishops would have attended if +Akinola had allowed them to do so?