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BOLIVIA: Bishop Writes Rowan Williams on why He cannot attend the Lambeth Conference
"I have lost confidence in any of the Instruments of Unity", Frank Lyons
June 18, 2008.
The Most Rev. Rowan Williams
The Archbishop of Canterbury
Lambeth Palace
London SE1 7JU
England
Dear Archbishop,
My wife Shawnee and I will not be attending Lambeth 2008. Suffice it to say that I have lost any confidence in any of the "Instruments of Unity". Each Instrument in turn has "supported" those who maintain traditional Anglican teaching in word only, while at the same time, quietly distancing them.
On the other hand, those who redefine all our terms and all our relationships to suit their fancy are supported in action because they have political and monetary power. Nor can I sit idly by while the US church wreaks their havoc of vengeance and death on those who disagree. Their behavior is not that of Christian fellowship or communion.
We are unable to accept your invitation to come to Lambeth because it will be confused with the unbiblical and disobedient stand of the Episcopal Church of the United States and Canada. By receiving assistance it would be misconstrued to appear that we accept the support and the direction that the Episcopal Church is moving the Communion, when in fact we do not. We are truly very sorry that TEC continues to deny basic tenets of the faith much less those of the Communion. Their present held beliefs and actions place our ministry in Bolivia at risk of grave misunderstanding both within our communities and among the other churches.
With sincere and profound regret,
The Rt. Rev. Francis R. Lyons,
Bishop of Bolivia
Casilla 848
Cochabamba,
Bolivia
