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TechnoratiArchbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams arrived in Tanzania on Tuesday for a critical Primates meeting where Anglican leaders around the globe are expecting a resolve to the Episcopal Church row.
(Photo: Reuters / Emmanuel Kwitema)The spiritual leader of the world's 77 million Anglicans, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams (L), is welcomed by Archbishop Donald Mtetemela (R) and Canon Mwita Akiri of Tanzania as he arrives in Dar es Salaam, February 13, 2007. Williams invoked the power of prayer on Tuesday to help him save the church from schism over gay priests and same-sex marriages at a crucial meeting this week.
Also on the arrival list that day was Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, controversial representative of the Episcopal Church – the U.S. Anglican arm. Primates from 38 Anglican provinces are scheduled to begin gathering at the same table on Thursday, but a group of Global South Anglican bishops have already begun to converse ahead of the official meeting.
Some of those already gathered have said that they will refuse to recognize Jefferts Schori at the Primates table over theological differences, including her support for the ordination of homosexuals and her questioning Jesus as the only way to salvation.
While the meeting agenda includes discussions on Millennium Development Goals and theological education among other issues, Anglican heads are anticipating a decision regarding the apostasies of the Episcopal Church, mainly its consecration of an openly gay bishop in 2003. The Church of Nigeria called for a resolution over the issue of homosexuality soon, warning that it would otherwise walk separately from the Anglican Communion.
And Williams, who said he fears schism in the Communion, stands at the head of the meeting and is the sole person who will determine the invitation list for the 2008 Lambeth Conference. That list will contain the provinces that will continue in communion with the 77-million member denomination.
Although previous primates meetings since 2003 have been called a make-or-break time for the Anglican Communion, bishops predict that this week's meeting will clarify the way ahead for Anglicans. And over the last three years, the Episcopal Church has had "more than sufficient warning," said Dr. Peter Jensen, archbishop of Sydney.
"Whether the American convictions prove to be prophetic and true, or willful and badly mistaken, they have chosen to follow them to the end," said Jensen. "They cannot be surprised that this will cause turbulence in the communion. They had more than sufficient warning over the years."
The current Primates agenda includes four hours of discussion on the Episcopal Church and its response to the Windsor Report, which had called parties that violate Anglican doctrine to repentance and to "express regret."
Jensen sees the debates as a clash of "deeply held convictions" among the Anglicans and asks, "Can Anglicans continue to witness to the truth and also love those with whom we differ so significantly?"
The Primates meeting is scheduled for Feb. 15-19.
