Anglican Communion Primates' Meetings

Anglican Communion Primates' Meetings
Name	Anglican Communion Primates' Meetings
Caption	Primates gathered at a meeting
Founded	1978
Location	Lambeth Palace; various global locations
Type	Episcopal forum

Contents

Anglican Communion Primates' Meetings

History

The meetings trace roots to initiatives by the Archbishop of Canterbury during the 1970s and 1980s, influenced by diplomatic precedents like the World Council of Churches consultations and provincial synods such as the General Synod of the Church of England. Early convocations connected leaders from the Province of the Anglican Church of Tanzania, Church of South India, Anglican Church of Southern Africa, Church of North India, Church of Pakistan, Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui, Episcopal Church of the Philippines, and Church of Ceylon. Key historical moments intersect with decisions and personalities including Rowan Williams, George Carey, Robert Runcie, Michael Ramsey, Justin Welby, Desmond Tutu, John Sentamu, and Peter Akinola, and events such as the responses to the 1998 Lambeth Conference resolution and the consecration of Gene Robinson.

The meetings aim to foster communion among primates from provinces like the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Anglican Church in North America, Anglican Church of Canada, Episcopal Church (United States), Anglican Church of Australia, Church of South Africa, Anglican Church of Southern Africa, Church of Uganda, Church of Kenya, and Church of Tanzania. Functions include pastoral consultation, coordination with the Anglican Consultative Council, issuing communiqués that reference institutions such as Lambeth Palace, the Anglican Communion Office, and legal bodies like provincial synods (e.g., General Synod of the Church of England). The meetings also relate to ecumenical dialogues with bodies such as the Roman Catholic Church, the World Council of Churches, the Orthodox Church, and partnerships with organizations like Tearfund and Anglican Aid.

Meetings often convene at venues including Lambeth Palace, Canterbury Cathedral, the Wesley Hotel, and rotating provincial cathedrals in locations like Accra, Nairobi, Sydney, Auckland, and Toronto. Procedures emphasize collegial prayer led by the Archbishop of Canterbury and liturgies referencing the Book of Common Prayer traditions from provinces such as the Episcopal Church (United States), Church of England, and Anglican Church of Australia. Decisions are typically recorded as communiqués, jointly signed by primates including leaders like George Carey, Rowan Williams, Justin Welby, Desmond Tutu, and Peter Akinola, and follow consultative formats analogous to those used by the Anglican Consultative Council, Lambeth Conference, General Synod of the Church of England, and provincial synods.

Major topics have included human sexuality debates sparked by the consecration of Gene Robinson and responses culminating in measures like the Windsor Report, the establishment of the Anglican Covenant proposals, and the imposition of pastoral interventions in provinces such as the Episcopal Church (United States) and the Anglican Church of Canada. Other decisions addressed mission strategy, theological education in institutions like Trinity College, Toronto and Ripon College Cuddesdon, relations with the Roman Catholic Church and World Council of Churches, consecration norms influenced by cases in Nigeria, Uganda, and Kenya, and mediation efforts involving leaders such as Rowan Williams and Justin Welby.

Controversies have centered on authority, colonial legacies, and provincial autonomy involving actors such as Peter Akinola, Frank Griswold, Gene Robinson, Katharine Jefferts Schori, N. T. Wright, and provinces like the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Episcopal Church (United States), and Anglican Church of Canada. Critics from organizations including GAFCON, Global South Anglican Movement, Forward in Faith, and supporters from Inclusive Church and Integrity USA have debated the meetings' legitimacy, transparency, and accountability. The role of reports like the Windsor Report and proposals such as the Anglican Covenant provoked responses from bodies such as the Anglican Consultative Council and influenced splits that led to formations like the Anglican Church in North America and networks including Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON).

The Primates' Meetings interact with the Lambeth Conference, the Anglican Consultative Council, the Anglican Communion Office, provincial General Synod of the Church of England bodies, and the Lambeth Commission which produced the Windsor Report. They coordinate with ecumenical partners such as the Roman Catholic Church, World Council of Churches, and the Orthodox Church, and engage theological colleges like Westcott House, Cambridge, Cuddesdon College, St Augustine's College, Canterbury, and Ridley Hall, Cambridge. Relations extend to networks including GAFCON, the Global South Anglican Movement, Forward in Faith, Anglican Mainstream, and advocacy groups such as Integrity USA and Inclusive Church.