Exposed: The Lambeth Circus Tent
My colleague John Benson has kindly provided me with this picture of the Big Top, where all the Lambeth plenary sessions were held in secret. We broadcast our special edition of Sunday Sequence from Canterbury this morning, and we're just about to leave for the airport. The programme went pretty well, with some excellent contributors. The final 'bishop count': 11 bishops on the programme!
At previous Lambeth Conferences, the plenary sessions were held in public and the press were permitted to enter and report. Most of the press at this Lambeth are reporting the reporting restrictions. Frankly, it was easier to report on the progess of the Northern Ireland peace negotiations.
Ruth Gledhill, religion correspondent for The Times, was one of my guests on today's Sunday Sequence and made the observation that each Lambeth Conference seems to reflect the personality of the presiding Archbishop of Canterbury. This Lambeth was characterised by worship, prayer, spirituality, quietness, careful exposition and patient listening -- much like Rowan Williams's personality. George Carey's 1998 Conference was characterised by evangelical gusto, and the 1988 Conference was 'middle of the fence', just like Robert Runcie.
Comment number 1.
At 5th Aug 2008, portwyne wrote:On the Sunday-morning programme William asked his bloggers to suggest some Summer reading for the Archbishop of Canterbury - I wasn't sure if he planned to start a separate thread but apparently not.
I'd like to suggest Rowan tries Louis de Berniere's 'The War of Don Emmanuel's Nether Parts'. The trilogy of which this is the first novel should seriously be read by all Christians - it gives one much to ponder. I am still haunted by the image of Cardinal Guzman inconsolable at the loss of something he yet possessed because he failed to understand change and transformation.
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