Anglican Communion News Service

2-9 March 2001

The following annotated diary has been prepared to give some sense of the routine of the meeting, and to provide some context for the texts that were presented in the Plenary Gatherings. Texts will be available on the ACNS website as soon as transcriptions are made.

Basic daily schedule:

7:30 - Eucharist (The liturgy was offered in various languages throughout the meeting: English, Spanish, Korean, French, Portuguese and Welsh)

8:15-9 - Breakfast

9:30-11 - Bible Study and discussion in small groups.

Note: The Bible study leader was Professor David Ford, Regius Professor of Divinity at Cambridge University whose aim was to "gather the meeting around the Bible." Following opening reflections by Professor Ford on the Gospel of Luke, the Primates gathered in small groups for Bible study.

11-11:30 - Break

11:30-13:00 - Gathering in Plenary

13:00 - Lunch

15:30 - 17:30 - Gathering in Plenary

17:30 - Evensong

18:30 - Dinner

20:00-21:15 - Evening Gathering in the Fireplace Lounge, or social program, or free time.

Friday 2 March

Arrivals during the day

Note: All 38 Primates were present at the meeting with the exception of the Moderator of the Church of Pakistan, the Primate of the Anglican Church of the Central America Region, the Primate of the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui, and the Moderator of the Church of North India, who is to be elected. Twelve of the Primates were accompanied by their spouses.

17:30 - Evensong

20:00 - The first gathering was a "fireside chat" and welcome to Primates, wives, and meeting staff by the Archbishop of Canterbury. New primates were introduced, and the Most Rev. Iraj Mottahedeh, Primate of Jerusalem and the Middle East, shared with the group the continuing difficult circumstances for Christians in their daily life and witness in the Middle East.

Saturday 3 March
Theme for the day: Discipleship, Forgiveness and Mission

11:30-13:00 Gathering in Plenary on Challenges to and from Africa in relation to Mission and Evangelism. The presenter was Professor Lamin Sanneh, an African Church historian who formerly taught at Harvard and is now at the Yale Divinity School. He is the author of several books and a recognised authority on West African Christianity. Professor Sanneh provided "a critique of mission and evangelism from the point of view of an advocate of religious pluralism."

15:30-17:30 Gathering in Plenary with responses to Professor Sanneh and report from the provinces on mission and evangelism activities.

20:00-21:15 Gathering in the Fireplace lounge. Noting that "our tradition has learned how to handle conflict" Dr. Carey asked the Archbishop of the West Indies and the Presiding Bishop of the Southern Cone to speak to the primates about their book, To Mend the Net, and invited comments from the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church and other Primates. Dr. Carey reiterated his intention to refer the matter to the Inter-Anglican Theological and Doctrinal Commission.

The Most Revd Patrice Byankya Njojo, Primate of the Congo, described some of the harrowing experiences of recent days, owing to the conflict in his province which led him to flee his country. A special collection was taken to help him meet some immediate financial needs.

Sunday 4 March
Lent 1

The Sunday programme departed from the normal schedule with Holy Eucharist in the Chapel at 10:00 with the Archbishop of Canterbury preaching and the Most Revd Frank Griswold presiding. The Archbishop's sermon is available as [ACNS2394].

After lunch the afternoon was free, with various options provided for those interested, including visits to the Asheville craft market, Chimney Rock Park, and the nature trail at Kanuga.

Following Evensong, the dinner and evening entertainment were hosted by Presiding Bishop and Mrs. Griswold. Primates, their wives and meeting staff were treated to hammered dulcimer and fiddle music during dinner, and took part in square dancing and a hymn sing after dinner to the music of Bucky Hanks (a priest of the Diocese of Western North Carolina) and his group, who play the bluegrass, gospel and Celtic music typical of the Appalachians.

Monday 5 March
Theme for the day: Learning for Mission

11:30-13:00 - Gathering in Plenary on Theological Education: Equipping the Church for Mission and Evangelism with the presentation by Professor Daniel Hardy who was Professor and Head of the Department of Theology at the University of Durham and Residentiary Canon of Durham Cathedral. His special interest is in the formation of theological education and institutions for mission.

15:00-16:00 - Gathering in Plenary with Theological Education continued.

16:30-17:30 - Introduction of the Consultation Paper of the Committee for the Review of the See of Canterbury by Rt Hon Lord Hurd of Westwell, Chairman.

The Committee was called into being by the Archbishop of Canterbury for the purpose of reviewing the role and responsibilities of his office. Members of the Review Team were present for first several days of the meeting, and met the Primates in their regional groups to gather information in aid of their task. Further information about the Committee and their charge is in [ACNS2320] and [ACNS2324].

Tuesday 6 March
Theme for the day: Constituting an Apostolic Church

8:15-9:30 - Breakfast in regional groups

11:45-13:15 - Gathering in Plenary for a discussion of the text requested by the Primates at their meeting in Jerusalem (1997): The Role and Purpose of the Office of Primate and the Meeting of the Primates by Bishop Mark Dyer and Archbishop Robin Eames.

15:30-17:30 - Gathering in Plenary on Canon Law and Communion by Professor Norman Doe. Professor Doe from Wales is a professor at the Law School of Cardiff University and Director of its Centre for Law and Religion. He is a member of the European Consortium for Church-State Research, and of the Colloquim of Anglican and Roman Catholic Canon Lawyers. His paper is on the ACNS web site: ACNS 2406.

Evening prayer was followed by an organ concert by Beverley Ward.

Wednesday 7 March
Theme for the day: Learning Generosity

9:30-10:00 - Gathering in Plenary for a response from Lord Hurd

10:00-11:00 - Bible study reflections by Professor Ford and gatherings in small groups

11:30-13:00 - Gathering in Plenary for Poverty and Debt with an address by Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane, Primate of Southern Africa, followed by questions and comments. The address in on the ACNS web site: ACNS 2407.

15:30-17:30 - Gathering in Plenary - HIV/AIDS: Focus on response to the pandemic presentation by the Rev. Gideon Byamugisha, a priest from Uganda who is HIV positive. He is the Director of the Archbishop Carey AIDS Centre in the Diocese of Namirembe, Kampala. He is the author of four books, including HIV/AIDS Counselling in a Church Community Context. The next issue of Anglican World will feature a story on his ministry.

20:00-21:15 Gathering in the Fireplace Lounge for responses from the regional areas to the afternoon presentation, with sharing of information on AIDS programmes in various provinces. A summary by the Rt. Rev. Herbert A Donovan, who recently served as the interim Anglican Observer to the United Nations concluded the session.

Thursday 8 March
Theme for the day: Looking Ahead

11:30-13:00 Gathering in Plenary for: a discussion of a Pastoral Letter from the Primates presented by drafting group chair, the Most Rev. Drexel Gomez, and for receiving reports from the Inter Anglican Theological and Doctrinal Commission.

13.00 The group photograph and photos with the staff of Kanuga and the ACO/Lambeth.

15:30-17:30 Gathering in Plenary: Approval of the Pastoral Letter and Working Plan as well as the dates of the meeting next year in England.

18:30 Dinner hosted by the Archbishop and Mrs Carey. During the dinner a surprise gift was presented to Archbishop George and Eileen Carey in celebration of Dr Carey's 10 years as Archbishop of Canterbury. The presentation was made by the senior Primate, the Primate of All Ireland, the Most Revd Robert Eames, and the Primate of Nigeria, the Most Revd Peter Akinola.