Reflections on Lambeth Conference from Bishop Megan

Dear Friends,

The Lambeth Conference concluded this week. You have seen the posts from myself and many other bishops and sources giving glimpses of those days. I have been encouraged by the breadth and faithfulness of the communion, the warmth and respect I experienced from Bishops and spouses from around the world.

Let me share three takeaways:

Hope which overcomes Alienation.

1 Peter 5:8-9a says, “Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” The Archbishop of Canterbury named the lions prowling in our world now: Inequity, Conflict, Climate Change, and Alienation among them. He also spoke about how our hope is not a tricky mindset, hard to maintain, but an enduring strength whose basis is outside of ourselves in what God has done and is doing in Jesus Christ. This hope is what can combat alienation, a chief struggle that I see all over our society and Northern California.

Intentional Discipleship

Following Jesus Christ is not a “one and done” deal. Instead, we are to be converted to life in God on an ongoing basis. The Body of Christ can support that life with tools and companionship for Intentional Discipleship. Evangelism and mission arise naturally from this kind of living, thus becoming, in an ongoing way, a disciple of Christ.

Communion Forest

Climate change is happening worldwide, and our responses to it must also be broadly spread. The Communion Forest is a beautiful idea about how individual dioceses can commit to the ongoing planting of trees in our world. Since the Anglican Church has a presence in 165 out of 195 countries across the globe, this long-term action for hope is truly global.

Lambeth Conference covered many other topics, and I look forward to sharing more about them with you. The workers, the volunteers, stewards, musicians, and even the constables were a critical part of this conference. The spouses had their own retreat and sessions as well as being able to attend many of the plenary sessions. You can find most of the presentations at LambethConference.org or on YouTube at Lambeth Conference 2022.