Bonnie Bivins: Connections to General Convention and Lambeth Conference

Over the past few weeks we have had a rare blessing.  While uninvited we have, perhaps because of Covid-19 or simply the expansion of modern technology, been able to watch the proceedings of both the Episcopal General Convention and the Anglican Communion Lambeth Conference.  Both are circles of our world as Episcopalians, Anglicans, and Christians that we rarely have the opportunity to observe must less participate in.  However, what happens in those meetings has bearing on our parish life. On the lighter side it gives un an opportunity to have a sense of the people guiding us.  

Off and on I watched the General Convention to observe where the Holy Spirit was guiding the Episcopal Church. Then I had the distinct blessing to observe in living color the whole (almost) Anglican Communion who came together with their differences and led by Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby discussed their context and theology with each other in love if not agreement.  One felt the embrace of God’s love for all gathered and the strong encircling bond of the children of God from their own context greeting each other as fellow disciples.  

Unfortunately, the General Convention was mostly the business of running the Episcopal Church. The Lambeth Conference was something different with three keynote addresses, a Bible Exposition of 1 Peter led by Justin Welby, and a number of Plenary sessions that brought together the contextual experience of the breadth of the Anglican Communion.  

I saved for myself and now share with you the YouTube links, so you can watch some of these extraordinary events. Only the General Convention opening sermon from Presiding Bishop Michael Curry is included in the links. You may possibly find other sessions from the General Convention on YouTube.

The links of the Lambeth Conference are in order (i.e. top down), from the start to finish of the conference. Other news and comments from the Episcopal perspective you will find on the Episcopal News Service news@episcopalchurch.org. 

• PB Michael Curry’s Opening Sermon to the 80th General Convention
  

• Opening Keynote Address 

• Bible Exposition: 1 Peter: 1 Called into Hope and Holiness

• Plenary: Mission & Evangelism

• Opening Service Canterbury Cathedral

• Plenary: Safe Church

• Bible Exposition: 1 Peter: 2 A Holy People following Christ

• Plenary: Life of the Communion

• Bible Exposition: Resistance and Resilience 1 Peter 2:13-3:22

• Plenary: Reconciliation

• Bible Exposition: Suffering in Christ - 1 Peter 4.1-19

• Plenary: Christian Unity

• Plenary: Inter Faith (Hospitality and Generosity?)

• Bible Exposition: 1 Peter: 5:1-14 Authority in Christ

• Plenary: Discipleship

• Keynote Address 2

• Plenary: The Decade Ahead

• Keynote Address 3

• Closing Service

• The Archbishop of Canterbury’s Closing Sermon at the Fifteenth Lambeth Conference

Peace,
Bonnie Bivins