The Lambeth Conference: July 24

Anthony Russell, Bishop of Ely: "The levels of conflict are hugely exaggerated. The worship is very good and the opportunity to meet people is quite wonderful."

Keith Ackerman, Bishop of Quincy, Illinois: “Any opportunity to preach Jesus Christ is a joyful opportunity. However, central truth is not a matter which can be mediated. Why do those who seek to drive change regarding the message in the bible on sex want us to defend what is not ours to defend? This was given us by God himself. After Jesus forgave the woman of adultery he did not say 'Go out and have a good time and form a discussion group and get back to me to share your experience with me'. God was clear what the law is and Jesus was clear that the law was to be administered with mercy. In our liturgy we still say 'Lord have mercy upon us'. If God executed justice rather than mercy, we would not have anyone at the altar or in the pews. Jesus told the woman to go and sin no more. When a person has a radical encounter with Jesus Christ they chose not to refute his word, not because they fear him but because they cannot bear breaking his heart. Those who continue to break his commandments forget that he says to us: 'You who love me will keep my commandments'. I cannot do what I feel like in contradiction to the Gospel and consider myself to be a faithful Christian."

Stephen Pickard: Assistant Bishop of Adelaide: “It is so exciting to be gathered together because we are a scattered communion all over the world. There are a lot of tensions still but it is too early to see how that will unfold.”

The history of the Lambeth Conference

Our historical guide traces the origins and issues that dominated the agenda at past Lambeth conferences

From the Times Archive, 1867

The first Lambeth Conference had its issues, but participants hoped future meetings would evoke the same fraternal spirit

• 1920 Conference: Birth Control

• 1958 Conference: Family Planning

• 1978 Conference: Ordination Of Women

Multimedia

• Full coverage of Lambeth Conference 2008

• Articles of faith: Ruth Gledhill's blog

• Video: Archbishop of Canterbury on Lambeth 2008

Related Links

• The wisdom between the extremes

• Lambeth voices: a panel of Anglican bishops share their views with Faith Online

Henry Louttit Jnr, Bishop of Georgia: “Last time the Americans in my group were all that was wrong with the world. This time it is more pleasant.”

Dr Katherine Jefferts Schori, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church: "I was not here in 1998 but the bishops that were say the mood is quite different. It is positive, it is wonderful. There is always a way ahead. As Christians we live in hope."

Jo Seohan, Bishop of Pretoria, South Africa: "The conference has been very informative in terms of issues that the bishops deal with on a daily basis. Most of us thought that the Conference would be very challenging because of the diverse issues. But it is very calm and focussed. There is collegiality. We are willing to work together. One would hope it continues in the same spirit right until the end. The big question is what happens after Lambeth, for the next 10 years."

Daniel Sarfo, Bishop of Kumasi, Ghana: "Nobody is intimidated, there is room for discussion."

Joel Pachao, Bishop of North Central Phillipines: "I was here in 1998 and as soon as you hit Canterbury, you felt the tension. I feel starting the conference with a retreat was quite helpful and puts everything into perspective."

John Saxbee, Bishop of Lincoln: "It has more of a family feel this time. I'm enjoying it more than the last conference. I've learned more about the faces of Christianity around the world than I have ever learned before, meeting bishops who are at the sharp end of poverty, war and AIDS. What we've discovered is that the bishops around the Anglican Communion are a fine body of people. I'm sorry they are not all here. Those who are demonstrate the real challenge of the Gospel: to feed the hungry, give housing to the homeless and give to the poor the Good News. That is what is important."

Tim Ellis, Bishop of Grantham: "We are a very close-knit family. There may be things we disagree about, but there are more things that we agree about and share."

Joseph Jon Bruno, Bishop of Los Angeles: "This is a fine conference which has opened us up to one another. We can agree that Jesus is Lord and we agree that there is injustice in the world and that we need to work on our differences. And I hope that we can continue that way."

John Davies, Bishop of St Asaph: "It has been a very renewing and creative experience for me to stand alongside people from parts of the world who experience suffering, abuse and violence. Speaking to them brings home to you how important the Anglican Communion is. One bishop said he was 70 and the war in his country started when he was 14 and has only just finished. Throughout that period he felt upheld by the Anglican Communion. He burst into a song of praise for that."