Letter to the Archbishop of Canterbury

Invite Bishop Gene Robinson to Lambeth in 2008

Your Grace ,

I am writing to express my profound disappointment at your decision to withhold an invitation to participate in the 2008 Lambeth Conference from the Rt. Rev'd Gene Robinson. Bishop Robinson is a duly elected and consecrated bishop of The Episcopal Church. As the only openly gay bishop in the Anglican Communion, it is imperative that Bishop Robinson be present at the Lambeth Conference so that real listening and learning can occur.

I strongly urge you to reconsider your decision and invite Bishop Robinson to the Lambeth Conference as a full participant.

Sincerely,

Dee Tavolaro

So that is a copy of the letter I sent to Archbishop Rowan. This afternoon I recieved a letter in return. It is copied below.

Canon Flora Winfield
The Archbishop of Canterbury's Office
for International, Ecumenical and
Anglican Communion Affairs


Dear Ms Tavolaro

The Archbishop of Canterbury has asked me to thank you for your letter of 21 June 2007 regarding his invitation to bishops of the Anglican Communion to next year's Lambeth Conference. The Archbishop is taking a period of study leave this summer and he has therefore asked me to respond to your letter on his behalf.

Prior to his departure, Archbishop Rowan noted carefully the level of disappointment expressed by correspondents, following his decision not to extend an invitation to Bishop Gene Robinson to attend the Lambeht Conference along with the other bishops. He stressed in his letter to the bishops that he did not take this decision lightly, but that he regarded it as appropriate in the light of the recommendations set out in the Windsor Report.

The Windsor Report counselled that in the future proper regard should be taken to the bonds of affection and interdependence between member Churches when considering the acceptability of a candidate for episcopal appointment. While it is recognised that Bishop Robinson was duly elected and consecrated according to the canons of The Episcopal Church, in view of the widespread objections to Bishop Robinson's ministry in other Provinces of the Communion, the Windsor Report further recommended that the Archbishop 'exercise very considerable caution in inviting him to the councils of the Communion'.

From the time of the election of Bishop Robinson to the See of New Hampshire, both the representatives of many Anglican Provinces and the Instruments of Communion made it clear that full recognition by the Communion could not be given to a bishop whose chosen lifestyle would, in most Provinces of the Communion, give rise to canonical impediment to his consecration as a bishop. The Archbishop has to be loyal to that widespread concern as well as bearing in mind the position of Bishop Robinson within The Episcopal Church. The Archbishop is therefore exploring inviting Bishop Robinson to the conference in another status.

Thank you once again for writing.

Yours sincerely

Flora Winfield