The 15th Lambeth Conference drew to a close today with a special worship service at Canterbury Cathedral.
The Conference saw approximately 650 bishops representing 165 countries gather in Canterbury to share in worship, prayer and discussion on key issues affecting the lives of their communities around the world.
During the service, the bishops, their spouses and the wider Conference community reaffirmed their faith in God, sharing in Holy Communion and saying the Lord’s Prayer in many different languages.
The Conference will now enter Phase Three, when the outcomes from the bishops’ conversations will be shared and further actions taken around the Anglican Communion.
Addressing the Conference this morning in his final keynote speech at the University of Kent, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby said: “How should we act? Above all, in relationship. That is the first and greatest call – the one we haven’t listed but it is the greatest call because it is the scriptural call.”
“We are a communion of churches catholic and reformed, autonomous and interdependent,” he continued, “and we must keep to the principles of both.”
Speaking of the Anglican Communion, he said: “Is it argumentative? Oh Yes. Is it diverse? Immensely. Is it God’s holy people? Certainly. Let us go out together in obedience – sent out, as God’s church for God’s world.”
All the news from the Lambeth Conference can be found online here.
You can watch the full sermon including the Archbishop of Canterbury’s closing sermon here.
MORE INFORMATION
- Order of service for the Closing Eucharist available here
- Email: media@lambethconference.org
- Get official photos from the Lambeth Conference at Photoshelter
