Anglican Primates meet for last time before Lambeth Conference

The leaders of the 40 provinces within the Anglican Communion are meeting in the Middle East this week for what’s been described as a “very strategic meeting”.

Chaired by Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, the archbishops gathered in Jordan will discuss what the programme will be for the Lambeth Conference – the once a decade meeting of worldwide Anglican bishops.

That meeting is being seen as a big moment for the future of the Anglican Communion and comes at a time of friction between church leaders in different parts of the world, mainly around the issue of sexuality.

This week’s gathering will also look at how to maintain relationships within the Communion.

Following the meeting, the primates will take part in pilgrimages to a number of holy sites including the place where Jesus was baptised.

Three primates won’t be in attendance.

Nicholas Okoh of Nigeria, Laurent Mbanda of Rwanda and Stanley Ntagali of Uganda are boycotting as a sign of their opposition to a perceived liberalisation of the Church on the issue of sexuality.

In the last Primates’ Meeting in Canterbury, UK, in 2017, churches that had approved same sex marriage were disciplined. Conservative bishops said that discipline wasn’t strong enough.

Anglican Bishops received by King of Jordan

The Archbishop of Canterbury commented, “It was a real honour for me and Anglican World Primates to be received in audience by His Majesty King Abdulla II of Jordan on Monday We spoke of the need to support Christians in the Middle East, regional stability, and the great work of the Anglican/Episcopal Diocese here.”