The Archbishop of Canterbury has called a Primates’ Meeting for Jan. 13-17 in Amman, Jordan.
Archbishop Justin Welby announced the meeting in an Epiphany letter to his fellow primates in January. He has offered further details in a subsequent letter.
In his Epiphany letter, Welby wrote of a “long and agonizing” list of difficulties facing Christians across the world, including violence, corruption, poverty, religious-based discrimination, and rising waters. But, he said, “it is our vocation to be bearers of joy … in the midst of the real troubles of our world.”
In his Epiphany letter, Archbishop Justin explained why he has decided to call such a meeting.
“When we come together at the Lambeth Conference in 2020, we will speak of holiness seeking to ensure that we aim to be a holy church,” he wrote. “We will reflect on intentional discipleship and the proclamation in word and deed. We will pray together and find the refreshment of worship in many styles. We will gather in fellowship and mutual love.
“Yet to get there we must prepare. We must prepare in witness, so that we arrive in Canterbury like the 70 (Luke 10:17), full of joy and testimony. We must prepare in worship, so that we are able to worship with others.”
In his latest letter, Welby wrote that he wanted the primates to decide the agenda together, as has been the practice in recent meetings. But he also wants the primates to discuss the Lambeth Conference and the work of the Archbishop’s Task Group, which was established after the 2016 Primates’ Meeting to explore ways to restore relationships, rebuild mutual trust and responsibility, heal the legacy of hurt, and explore deeper relationships within the Anglican Communion.
“The Task Group is preparing a report and recommendations for the 2020 Primates’ Meeting,” he wrote. “One of its recommendations, which has my strong support, is to have a short Season of Prayer and Repentance across the Communion during the fifth week of Lent 2020.”
Adapted from ACNS
Matthew Townsend is a Halifax-based freelance journalist and volunteer advocate for survivors of sexual misconduct in Anglican settings. He served as editor of the Anglican Journal from 2019 to 2021 and communications missioner for the Anglican Diocese of Quebec from 2019 to 2022. He and his wife recently entered catechism class in the Orthodox Church in America.
