07.08.2022
Lambeth 2022 Day 12: Final day of conference looks at how 5 Marks of Mission can take us forward
The Lambeth Conference concludes today. For the past 12 days Anglican bishops from throughout the Anglican Communion have met in Canterbury. The once in a decade conference brings together bishops from across the globe for prayer and reflection, fellowship, and dialogue on church and world affairs. Archbishop Michael Jackson is attending and is reporting back to Dublin & Glendalough. Below is his report from the final day of Lambeth 2022, Day 12.
The final day of The Lambeth Conference 2022 began with the Third Keynote Address by the Archbishop of Canterbury. In this he developed his sense of how The Five Marks of Mission can lead us all forward over the next decade.
In returning to his theme of our being sent by God as a key marker of being a Christian, he spoke insightfully of the very obedience of going as one of the ways the church finds renewal because, when we travel, we travel with God. He went on to say that the church is not another NGO but God’s shining light; and that autonomy is a principle of subsidiarity because we must always work at the most local level of living.
Regarding Tell, he said: we can only tell what we know; we cannot give what we do not have. Regarding Teach, he said: teaching is necessary for the on–going life of churches and synagogues in order to help the texts to speak to contemporary lives.
Regarding Tend, he spoke of his own volunteer chaplaincy in the time of Covid–19 at St Thomas’ Hospital, London, saying that for countless people the fact that the church contributed and turned up was what was memorable.
Regarding Transform, he suggested that Anglicans have got accustomed to assimilating to government and that to be silent is to be one of the oppressors.
Regarding Treasure, he said: the climate emergency is the result of the wealthier countries having declared war on God’s creation.
He concluded by describing the Anglican Communion as: argumentative – yes; diverse – yes; God’s holy people – yes; sent – yes.
Countless people were thanked for the ways in which they had enabled the Lambeth Conference to take place. Among thirteen recipients of the Cross of StAugustine was The Reverend Professor Robert Heaney, a child of the Church of Ireland and well known to many of us.
After this final gathering for study, we returned to our Bible Study Groups. This afternoon there is a concluding Act of Worship in Canterbury Cathedral.
