Archbishop at the Press Briefing at the ACC Meeting
Tuesday 12th May 2009
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, shares his thoughts on the ACC meeting and answers questions from the press.On this last day of the Anglican Consultative Meeting (ACC-14) the delegates focused on final resolutions and the messages they will take back to their provinces. After a discussion in their discernment groups a closing plenary session was held with the members presenting positive and challenging insights from the meetings. Many commented on the quality of the worship, bible studies, and the design of the meetings, which encouraged conversation with a freedom to share ideas and thoughts.
People particularly mentioned the network groups and the ability to fully engage them in dialogue. Some concerns were raised about expectations in their provinces that they would come home with solutions to issues, which have plagued the communion for the past few years. Some of the delegates spoke about coming to ACC-14 with anxiety but that they now return home, " with hope because of the relationships that have been built here, relationships of value that will last". One Lutheran Bishop remarked at the end that despite everything going on, " it feels like a communion".
The Archbishop of Canterbury, the president of the Anglican Consultative Council spoke of these things in a press briefing as the meetings was concluding.
Listen to the Press Briefing [8MB]