Splits appear over Lambeth 2008
Bishops in the Church of Uganda have announced their intention not to attend the Lambeth Conference in 2008, the ten-yearly gathering of Anglican bishops from around the world.
Invitations to attend have recently been sent by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams. However, the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, the Most Rev. Henry Luke Orombi, has released a statement stating that the House of Bishops of the Church of Uganda are standing by their ‘Road to Lambeth statement’ released in 2006, which stated that they would not attend the Lambeth Conference if violators of the Lambeth Resolution were also invited.
Since the American bishops who consented to and participated in the consecration of Gene Robinson, the homosexual bishop of New Hampshire, have been invited the Ugandan bishops have resolved not to attend. Gene Robinson himself has not been invited.
Dr Peter Akinola, the Archbishop of Nigeria, has also responded coolly to the invitations. He too reaffirmed that the Church of Nigeria is committed to the ‘Road to Lambeth’ statement.
The Nigerians are dismayed that Bishop Martyn Minns of the Convocation of Anglicans in North America (CANA) has not been invited. Bishop Minns represents Nigerian leadership for Anglicans in the USA disenchanted with their own national leaders.
