Reflections on the House of Bishops' Meeting---Bishop Barry Howe, Episcopal Diocese of West Missouri

We met to listen to others share with us from the greater Anglican Communion; to observe the work of our Episcopal Church in the dioceses of Louisiana and Mississippi following Hurricane Katrina; and to respond to requests made of us by the Primates of the Anglican Communion. We were blessed by many of the retired bishops returning to join with us in this work. Our spouses were also present, sharing in a full program for them.

Those who were invited to join us from the greater Anglican Communion were the Archbishop of Canterbury and members of the Joint Standing Committee of the Anglican Consultative Council and the Primates. These guests included the Chair of the Anglican Consultative Council, the Primate of New Zealand. Other Committee members were a Bishop from Central Africa, a laywoman from West Africa, the Primate of Australia, a laywoman from South Africa, the Primate of Jerusalem and the Middle East, and the Primate of Wales. The Executive Secretary of the Anglican Communion, Kenneth Kearnon, was also present. The Archbishop and four of these members of the ACC addressed us, sharing their perspectives on the challenges within the Anglican Communion and how these challenges have been affected by the actions and life of the Episcopal Church. We heard words of affirmation and words of chastisement. We were offered differing perspectives about the Primates’ expectations. And we received differing expectations about our response from several of them. All this was carried out in an atmosphere of mutual love and support for one another, and with gratefulness for our time together. The Archbishop was with us for two days. The other guests remained with us for the entire time we were gathered.

We entered into work projects selected for us by the Dioceses of Louisiana and Mississippi—all dealing with the rebuilding from the devastation of Katrina. We learned first-hand that what has been rebuilt, the necessary services that have been offered to people, and the compassionate presence with people has been the exclusive work of the Church. The Episcopal Church has been the leader in this work. Government structures and systems have been non-existent in their presence and in serving the people. In listening to many stories of the people, we nevertheless heard new hope in their hearts as they shared expressions of thanksgiving for the Church. In our personal work, Mary and I helped to build and plant new community gardens which are designed to grow abundant produce for the neighborhood.

Our work culminated in a response to the Primates and to the larger Church. (This response is also found on our website). We spent almost two full days in closed sessions with honest and respectful dialogue. Unfortunately a small group of dissident bishops, who appeared when the Archbishop was with us, immediately withdrew from our presence, and had no part in any of the dialogue. Without knowing any of the dynamics of our work together, they have been the first ones to issue statements to the media that condemn our response to the larger Church. The final response was affirmed by voice vote by at least ninety-eight percent of the bishops present. Such an affirmation is witness to the care we expressed for one another and the desire we had to honor all voices. We believe we have done this with the wondrous grace of God.

Those who were the Anglican Consultative Council representatives will now study our response and make a report with recommendations to the Archbishop of Canterbury. He has said that he will consult the Primates and others throughout the Communion before issuing his thoughts about our work. He has already stated that he was very pleased by how he observed our work together when he was present, and overjoyed with the wonderful work of the Episcopal Church in New Orleans and along the Gulf Coast.

We have responded to the spirit of the Windsor Report and to the Primates. We have asked that other Provinces of the Anglican Communion do the same, especially those who are promoting incursions into our Dioceses to foster disunity. And we have said again how much we wish to be a part of the Anglican Communion without changes in structure and authority and other expectations that would in essence destroy the unity we have maintained in worship and world mission and mutual respect for provincial autonomy.

The leadership of our Presiding Bishop was grace-filled, forceful, and without guile. Her example models a blessed presence for all of us. We lived out who we are as brothers and sisters in Christ in this meeting, and we have told the larger Church who we are in our response asked of us. I am very grateful to be a part of the prophetic witness of the Episcopal Church, seeking to be inclusive of all and to minister to all. I come away from this meeting not at all anxious about the dissenting voices from afar, but saddened by the numbers in our own Church who are walking apart from us. We shall continue to do the work of the Lord we are called to do, focusing upon His mission for the building of God’s Kingdom.